USAF’s Response: Responding to the Pentagon inspector general’s May 20 report on contracting irregularities associated with the Thunderbirds aerial demonstration team (see above), Air Force spokesman Lt Col Mike Paoli said the following: “Our leaders take the report’s findings seriously and have acted on every recommendation provided by the DOD Inspector General’s office.” Paoli said Air Force Secretary Michael Wynne and Acquisition Executive Sue Payton have communicated with all USAF senior leaders and everyone in the contracting career field, on “the importance of following established contracting regulations and the critical need to avoid any real or perceived appearance of impropriety or favoritism.” The Air Force, beyond the IG’s recommendations, has created new procedures to enhance contracting oversight, such as “mandatory legal reviews of key source selection documentation and expansion of the ombudsman program as an avenue to voice acquisition concerns,” he said. The bottom line, Paoli said, is that USAF is committed to “contracting processes that are fair, lawful, and provide the American people the best value for their tax dollar.”
Airmen and Guardians in the Active and Reserve component, as well as civilian employees, in “mission critical and high-risk populations” are now required to receive influenza vaccinations annually to “preserve force readiness,” according to a recent Department of the Air Force memo.