Teets to build on core competencies

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. David A. Jablonski
  • Air Force Print News
WASHINGTON --  Peter B. Teets will focus on core competencies to take the Air Force through a transitional period that includes the fiscal 2006 budget process and the quadrennial defense review.

Mr. Teets has served as undersecretary of the Air Force since 2001 and became the acting secretary of the Air Force following the retirement of Dr. James G. Roche. Mr. Teets also serves as the Department of Defense executive agent for space and as the director of the National Reconnaissance Office.

“I intend to maintain the current priorities and continue to build on the Air Force’s core competencies,” Mr. Teets said. “The Air Force is a wonderful institution because of its people. We need to continue developing them in the same way we have in the last several years.”

One recent example he cited is the space cadre formed under the national security space program. That program integrated professional-development opportunities and rotational assignments for space professionals, similar to the way aviators are trained and mentored.

“We want to build core competencies that consist of developing Airmen, transitioning technology to warfighting and integrating operations,” Mr. Teets said.

Although he said core competencies would serve the Air Force well into the future, the service’s leaders need to seek the resources necessary to recapitalize assets when discussing next year’s budget.

“The 2006 budget will go to Congress, and I will certainly testify and provide rationale for why the president’s budget is a good budget, and to seek help from Congress to provide the resources we need to accomplish our mission,” Mr. Teets said.

The budget discussion comes at the same time the Air Force begins to meet the challenges of the quadrennial defense review.

“It’ll take a year to perform, but the QDR terms of reference are coming together right now, and this will shape our Air Force for a good number of years to come,” Mr. Teets said. “It’s vitally important that we get this QDR right.”

But the most challenging task Mr. Teets said he faces is one of image.

“Over the past several months, we have faced some challenges in the press,” he said, about issues relating to the acquisition process and unprofessional behavior of a small number of Airmen. “I would simply reiterate that one of the most important and best things about our Air Force is that we honor our core values -- integrity first, service before self and excellence in all we do. To that end, I would urge all of us to rededicate ourselves to those core values and live our lives according to them.”