Report detailing nuclear mission recommendations released

  • Published
WASHINGTON (AFPN) --  Department of Defense officials here released a report Sept. 12 that details recommendations for the future of the Air Force nuclear mission.

Secretary of Defense Robert M. Gates formed a task force led by former Secretary of Defense Dr. James Schlesinger that examined the Air Force's nuclear enterprise. 

At a press conference before releasing the report to the public, Dr. Schlesinger revealed several of the panel's recommendations.

"We greatly appreciate the panel's insight, which is based upon decades of experience in the nuclear arena," said acting Secretary of the Air Force Michael B. Donley. "We are thoroughly assessing all of the panel's findings and intend to aggressively incorporate applicable recommendations into the many fixes we already have underway across the service."

Program updates, efforts and further initiatives will be discussed at the Air Force Nuclear Summit Sept. 18, Secretary Donley said.

"Soon after that, the Air Force will present a comprehensive nuclear enterprise roadmap that will guide our efforts to move forward on the complex, but vital, issues identified by the Schlesinger panel and other external and internal reviews," Secretary Donley said.

Reinvigorating the nuclear enterprise is the most urgent priority of the Air Force, and the Schlesinger Panel recommendations will play a key role in this effort, Secretary Donley said. 

Air Force officials created a nuclear task force to review and enact more than 180 recommendations made by this and other nuclear enterprise reports.

"We remain committed to restoring the Air Force's credibility as a provider of safe, secure, responsive and reliable U.S. nuclear deterrent capabilities for this nation," Secretary Donley said. 

Click here to read the report of the task force.

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