Asked at the Senate Armed Services Committee hearing last week on the proposed Fiscal 2011 Air Force budget whether the service is on track to fulfill requirements under the Weapons Systems Acquisition Reform Act, signed into law last May, Air Force Secretary Michael Donley replied, “We’re making good progress.” Donley emphasized that the service has added nine program executive officers to its acquisition force “to reduce the span of control and give these senior officers more time to spend on fewer numbers of programs.” He also noted that USAF increased its acquisition force by 700 last year and planned to add “several thousands” over the next five years.
The Air Force has finished modifying and testing the new VC-25B Bridge aircraft that will serve as a temporary Air Force One, the service announced May 1. All that’s left now is to finish painting the jet before it starts flying this summer.