The budget sequester has stunted Air Force Materiel Command’s hopes to build a more seasoned and knowledgeable workforce, AFMC boss Gen. Janet Wolfenbarger told the Daily Report on Monday. “We have not been able to bring on the numbers of people we would have liked,” she said after her speech at AFA’s 2013 Air and Space Conference. She added that the command is closely managing the personnel issue. Manpower levels are sufficient for the tasks at hand, she said, although budget plans under development would still have some hiring built into them. If there is a budget continuing resolution, AFMC will be able to keep a proportionate number of people to meet the requirements, she said.
The U.S. supports “a stronger and more capable” European defense, Defense Secretary Lloyd J. Austin III said during an Oct. 22 press conference in Brussels—but that defense should not duplicate the functions and capabilities of the NATO alliance.