For some officers, Sept. 1 will mark the dawn a new day. The Air Force will begin testing a new assignment system that, simply put, will put no premium on long service in a particular job. The days of automatic moves based on time on station are growing dim. The new system will focus more on career development. If there is a “right” job for you, you’ll be tapped. If not, well….
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.

