At the AFA symposium, General Lance Lord took time to dump cold water on rumors that DOD might strip the Air Force of its current control and management of the Global Positioning System space constellation. “I don’t think that is a good idea,” Lord said, adding that, when the idea was first being pitched around in the Pentagon, there was a great deal of “misinformation” being spread about Air Force management of space programs. The space acquisition corps has pushed the envelope a little by taking some risks in constellation satellite sustainment, which makes Lord hopeful of fielding a GPS III satellite sooner than expected.
Airmen basic rarely go on to become four-star generals, but one who did retired last week after a 42 year career that saw him rise from a lowly slick-sleeve to the head of one of the Air Force’s most important major commands.