President-elect Donald Trump’s transition team met with Pentagon leadership for the first time on Friday, more than a week and a half after election day and amid a flurry of rumors about his possible Defense Secretary appointment. Pentagon spokesman Peter Cook said in a statement the department “will do everything we can to help ensure a seamless and efficient transition.” Trump’s Pentagon transition team includes retired Air Force Maj. Gen. Tom Carter, who served as an assistant to former Air Force Secretaries Michael Donley and Michael Wynne, and retired Air Force Maj. Gen. Earl Matthews, who retired as the director of cyberspace operations in 2014. The team also includes former Boeing executive Mira Ricardel, retired Army Gen. William Hartzog, retired Army Lt. Gen. Keith Kellogg, retired Army Maj. Gen. Bert Mizusawa, Heritage Foundation analyst Justin Johnson, Republican Party of Wisconsin executive Michael Duffey, and consultant Sergio de la Pena.
USAF to Cut F-35 Buy in Future Years Defense Plan
May 14, 2021
The Air Force wants to scale back buys of the F-35 over the next five years, hoping to get sustainment costs down and to wait for the more capable Block 4 version, according to talking points prepared for Chief of Staff Gen. Charles Q. Brown Jr. The reduced buy will…