Thursday, April 25, 2024
Thursday, April 25, 2024
President Biden intends to nominate former Pentagon acquisition chief Frank Kendall to be Air Force secretary, according to a White House announcement naming him and several other key administration picks.
From 2012 to 2016, Kendall served as under secretary of defense for acquisition, technology and logistics. He is currently an independent consultant, a senior fellow at the Center for American Progress, a senior adviser to the Center for Strategic and International Studies, and a member of the Council on Foreign Relations.
According to the White House, Kendall is also a member of the board of directors of Leidos and of Leonardo Electronics USA. Earlier in his career, Kendall was an executive at Raytheon Technologies.
Kendall is a long-time critic of the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter program, which he has called "acquisition malpractice."
House Armed Services Committee Chairman Adam Smith (D-WA), who has said he wants to cut the F-35 program, greeted news of Kendall's impending nomination with enthusiasm.
"Frank Kendall is exactly the kind of public servant we need at the helm of the Air Force at a time when the service is navigating so many unique challenges, including effective acquisition to meet our nation's future threats," Smith said in a statement. "With more than 40 years of experience in defense and national security, and with a particular focus on acquisition policy during his tenure in the Obama administration, I cannot think of a better, more equipped leader to tackle these issues head on."
Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman Jack Reed (D-RI), who graduated from the U.S. Military Academy in 1971 alongside Kendall, also said he supported the nomination.
“Frank Kendall is an outstanding pick to serve as the next Secretary of the Air Force,” Reed said. “He has been confirmed by unanimous consent twice and is an exemplary public servant. He is well known to this committee and the Air Force will benefit from his continued leadership. Frank is a proven, effective leader. He’s got the skill, experience, integrity, and temperament you want from the top civilian leader of the Air Force.”
Additionally, Biden intends to nominate Gina Ortiz Jones to be under secretary of the Air Force.
She previously served as an Air Force intelligence officer and an adviser with the Defense Intelligence Agency. Jones unsuccessfully tried to win a seat in Congress in 2018 and 2020, twice becoming the Democratic nominee for Texas' 23rd district.
Biden also intends to nominate former Army acquisition chief Heidi Shyu to become under secretary for research and engineering.
Shyu, who consults for over a dozen companies, is a member of the board of trustees for Aerospace Corp., the chairwoman of the board for Plasan North America, a member of the board for Auterion Government Solutions, Catalyze Dallas, Levitate Capital, Levitate Acquisition Corp., Linse Capital, and VK Integrated Systems, according to the White House. She previously worked as an executive at Raytheon.
News of the nominations was first reported by Defense News.
Biden also intends to nominate Meredith Berger to be assistant secretary of the Navy for energy, installations and environment. Berger served as the deputy chief of staff for the Navy during the Obama administration.
The president has also tapped Caroline Krass to be DOD general counsel. She is a senior executive and deputy general counsel at American International Group.