Sue Payton formally stepped down from her post as the Air Force’s top weapons buyer on April 8 after more than two-and-a-half years in the post. Air Force spokeswoman Karen Platt told the Daily Report yesterday that, at Payton’s request, there was no statement issued on her departure or any other fanfare. David Van Buren, who had been serving since last year as Payton’s principal deputy, is now the acting head of USAF’s acquisition office. We reported last week that Payton’s departure was pending.
While the U.S. and its allies up their efforts to build out multi-orbit, multi-constellation satellite communications that are harder for an enemy to disrupt, officials noted technical and cost challenges, particularly for the user in the field.