Since 1991, there has been a 69 percent decline in the number of Congressional lawmakers who have served in the military, says Maj. Gen Robin Rand, USAF legislative liaison. Only three percent of lawmakers today have direct experience with the Air Force, he noted during a speech Tuesday in Arlington, Va. USAF relies heavily on making its case to “more experienced” professional staff, who can get the attention of their respective member of Congress, said Rand, who was guest speaker of the Air Force Association-sponsored Air Force Breakfast Series. Rand moves on to his new assignment as special assistant to the vice chief of staff on Oct. 18; Brig. Gen. Lori Robinson is replacing him in the legislative liaison office.
The Air Force is leaning toward a less-sophisticated autonomous aircraft in the second increment of the Collaborative Combat Aircraft, the services chief futurist said. He also suggested that the next increment of CCA may be air-launched, a la the "Rapid Dragon" experiments conducted by the service in recent years.