Changing the Culture of the Nuclear Force

Air Force Global Strike Command is making progress toward meeting the recommendations prompted by the nuclear enterprise review, but there is still work to do, the head of the command told the House Armed Services Subcommittee on Strategic Forces on Wednesday. “We have closed over 300 action items that complement the ongoing review efforts,” have “reinvigorated ICBM operations, and are effectively making positive cultural changes throughout the community,” said Gen. Robin Rand. B-52 training has also been overhauled, he said. Still, “We are not done. Culture change is not something that you can just flip a switch on. We must foster a culture where we aren’t afraid to question how things are done,” said Rand. Then-Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel in November 2014 announced sweeping changes across the nuclear enterprise designed to address systemic problems. In June 2015, the GAO ann?ounced that while the DOD had made progress on modernizing the nuclear enterprise, some capability gaps and deficiencies remained.