An Army delegation led by Gen. Ann Dunwoody, head of Army Materiel Command, last week traveled to Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio, to discuss weapon-systems acquisition with members of Air Force Materiel Command. Dunwoody met with Gen. Donald Hoffman, AFMC boss, on July 1. The Secretary of the Army has directed an acquisition review for the land service and Dunwoody and her staff wanted to learn more about the Air Force’s acquisition improvement plan and the lessons that AFMC is learning in executing it. Dunwoody and her staff were reportedly especially interested in how AFMC handles the complexities of translating warfighter needs into acquisition requirements. Wright-Patterson officials said AFMC senior staff emphasized the importance of establishing clear lines of authority and accountability within acquisition organizations. (Along those lines, AFMC just implemented a realignment of its organizations.) (Wright-Patterson photo caption by Michelle Eviston) (See also June 30 Wright-Patterson report)
Depot-level maintenance took longer than expected for nearly three-quarters of Air Force aircraft from fiscal 2019-2024, according to a new report, as unplanned repairs rise across the aging fleet. The report, from the Government Accountability Office, also found that the extent of the delays has been masked because officials often revise their target timelines after unplanned work occurs.