Gates Fires F-35 Manager: Defense Secretary Bob Gates has fired Marine Corps Maj. Gen. David Heinz, who has led the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter program office since April 2009. The Pentagon boss announced the ouster of Heinz during the Feb. 1 defense budget roll out, saying only that he would be replaced be a three-star general officer. In the interim, F-35 deputy program executive officer, Air Force Maj. Gen. C.D. Moore has the lead. Last summer, Heinz reportedly angered Gates over critical remarks Heinz made about the primary F-35 engine, Pratt & Whitney’s F135. Since then, DOD officials have acknowledged major problems with the F-35 program, prompting the need to redirect funds to bolster development and testing and a slowdown in early production plans.
Air Force Chief of Staff nominee Gen. Henneth Wilsbach said he'll give special attention to coordinating with the Navy on buys of new weapons like the Joint Advanced Tactical Missile.
