Michael Gilmore, the Pentagon’s director of operational test and evaluation, accompanied Maj. Gen. Stephen Sargeant, Air Force Operational Test and Evaluation Center boss, on a test sortie of one of the Air Force’s newly upgraded C-5M transport aircraft Dec. 7 at Dover AFB, Del. Sargeant had invited Gilmore to come along to see first-hand how AFOTEC is conducting operational test and evaluation of the new C-5M variant that features new avionics and engines. “It was a terrific trip and a chance to see a great group of professionals,” said Gilmore, who had the chance to talk directly with C-5M aircrew and maintainers to get their candid feedback regarding the aircraft’s new capabilities. As part of the ongoing evaluations, Air Force testers recently completed a month’s worth of surge operations flying the C-5M from Dover to Incirlik AB, Turkey. (Kirtland report by Katherine C. Gandara)
Adm. Christopher Grady, vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs and head of the Joint Requirements Oversight Council, is pushing a “portfolio” approach to requirements and wants his position to have “more teeth” so he can enforce it.