Dayton Daily News November 13, 2008
New Air Force secretary pledges greater oversight of U.S. nukes
By Chris Megerian
WASHINGTON — Air Force Secretary Michael Donley pledged Wednesday, Nov. 12, to refocus on ensuring the safety and readiness of the country's nuclear weapons.
Donley, speaking at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington, D.C., was sworn in as secretary less than a month ago following a series of harsh assessments on nuclear safety.
Six nuclear missiles were mistakenly flown on a B-52 bomber over the continental United States last year, and warhead fuses were accidently sent to Taiwan in 2006.
Former Secretary Michael Wynne and Air Force Chief of Staff Michael Mosely were ousted by Defense Secretary Robert Gates earlier this year.
Donley, who served as acting Air Force secretary in 1993, said the military must work toward eliminating risk associated with handling nuclear weapons, not just reducing it.
"Perfection must be our standard," he said.
Although he admitted nuclear weapons are less useful against unconventional forces like terrorists, Donley emphasized their importance in deterring "rising powers."
"A credible and reliable nuclear deterrent is essential to our national security," he said.
Nuclear weapons logistics are handled by Air Force Nuclear Weapons Center, which is overseen by Air Force Material Command based at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base.
A report issued by the Air Force Nuclear Task Force on Oct. 24 tied some of the problems to a shift in focus from the Cold War's nuclear mission to fighting terrorism and the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
The scattering of responsibility for overseeing and maintaining nuclear weapons in 1992 also was blamed.
"As a result, the Air Force's nuclear sustainment system became fragmented, the pool of nuclear experienced Airmen atrophied, and nuclear expertise eroded as less time was allocated to maintain nuclear operational proficiency," the report reads.
The military sought to address this issue last month by announcing plans to consolidate all nuclear-related bombers and missiles under one command.
John Pike, director of the military research firm Globalsecurity.org, said he understands the decreased emphasis on nuclear weapons but applauded Gates' decision to shake up Air Force leadership.
"In the current threat environment, you just think, 'This just ain't going to happen,'" he said. "But you can't afford to goof off."
Donley said nuclear weapons account for between 3.5 percent and 5 percent of the Air Force's $116 billion budget.
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