After Hurricane Katrina devastated Keesler AFB, Miss., last summer, the base suspended its normal training mission but joined in humanitarian operations, even as it began tackling hurricane damage at the base. Keesler officials say that, as of mid-December, base efforts amounted to 291 missions involving 10 or more personnel. The base delivered 122,736 meals ready-to-ear, 187,660 pounds of food and clothing, 239,227 gallons of water, clocking more than 20,000 manhours. According to TSgt. Julie Sargent, NCO in charge of Keesler’s humanitarian relief operations office, the mission number could be “three times” greater.
A new report from the Government Accountability Office calls for the Pentagon’s Chief Technology Officer to have budget certification authority over the military services’ research and development accounts—a move the services say would add a burdensome and unnecessary layer of bureaucracy.
