Called Strike

Ashton Carter, the Pentagon's acquisition chief, on Thursday will for the first time take questions from the press about the “compressive” restructuring of the Joint Strike Fighter program he recently directed.

The forum for this discussion of major changes to DOD's costliest weapons program? A telephone conference call from JSF prime contractor Lockheed Martin's Fort Worth, TX, offices.

Who invited reporters to speak with Carter? Not Carter's staff, but Lockheed Martin -- which will also make available Robert Stevens, its chief executive officer, for questioning.

Defense Secretary Robert Gates last month fired the two-star general responsible for managing the JSF program. Tomorrow, reporters will get to ask whether Lockheed plans a corollary shake-up of its JSF leadership team, which includes Dan Crowley, Lockheed Martin executive vice president and F-35 program general manager; and Tom Burbage, Lockheed executive vice president and F-35 general manager for integration.