The Air Force is leading the Defense Department in acquisition reform, Pentagon acquisition chief Ash Carter said Wednesday. He praised USAF for establishing a program executive officer for the buying of services and said it has reaped huge savings in areas like performance-based logistics. “All the other services are following the Air Force’s lead,” he said. Moreover, USAF’s Acquisition Improvement Program—launched in the wake of the collapsed KC-X and CSAR-X programs—is a model that Carter said “I encourage the other components to emulate.” He also had high praise for David Van Buren, USAF’s acting acquisition executive. Carter said Van Buren was instrumental in helping the Office of the Secretary of Defense department-wide efficiency efforts.
Meink: Air Force Has Five More E-7s Under Contract
April 30, 2026
The Air Force has contracts in place for five additional E-7A Wedgetail airborne battle management aircraft, Secretary Troy Meink told lawmakers April 30. Meink also said the Department of the Air Force wants to work with Congress to find ways to continue to fund the E-7 next year and beyond,…