Task Force on Nuclear Weapons Management Members Named

News in Balance:

WASHINGTON, June 12, 2008 -- Secretary of Defense Robert Gates today announced the membership of the task force asked to review DoD's nuclear weapons management. The task force, announced by Gates June 5, will provide independent advice on the organizational, procedural and policy improvements necessary to ensure that the highest levels of accountability and control are maintained in the department's stewardship of nuclear weapons, delivery vehicles, sensitive components and basing procedures.

Task force members are:

• Chairman James R. Schlesinger, former secretary of defense, secretary of energy and director of the Central Intelligence Agency.

• Retired Air Force Gen. Michael P. C. Carns, former vice chief of staff and director of the Joint Staff, Joint Chiefs of Staff.

• Retired Navy Adm. Edmund P. Giambastiani, former vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and commander, U.S. Joint Forces Command.

• Dr. John J. Hamre, president of Center for Strategic and International Studies, Defense Policy Board chairman and former deputy secretary of defense.

• Mr. Franklin C. Miller, former special assistant to President George W. Bush and senior director for defense policy and arms control on the National Security Council.

• Dr. Jacques S. Gansler, University of Maryland Roger. C. Lipitz chair in public policy and Private Enterprise and former under secretary of defense for acquisition, technology and logistics.

• Dr. J.D. Crouch, Defense Policy Board member and former deputy national security adviser under President George W. Bush.

• Mr. Christopher Williams, Defense Policy Board member and former acting under secretary of defense for policy.

The Task Force will consider the findings and recommendations of the investigative report prepared by Navy Adm. Kirkland Donald entitled "Investigation into the Shipment of Sensitive Missile Components" and the three parallel assessments of inventory control procedures done by the Air Force, Navy and Defense Logistics Agency for nuclear weapons and nuclear-weapons related materials.

Gates requested the task force provide an initial assessment focusing on organizational, procedural, policy and other matters involving the Department of the Air Force within 60 days. The second phase is scheduled for completion within 120 days of appointment and includes Department of Defense-wide matters to ensure sufficiently far-reaching and comprehensive recommendations are considered.

(From a U.S. Defense Department press release.)

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