The Pentagon seems to have decided to bring order to the chaos with arms purchases. A large—scale reform is currently being discussed: two new super-duties are being created - literally "royal", as they have already been dubbed in behind-the-scenes conversations. These executives will have full control over the largest procurement programs, first the Navy and then the Air Force, and they will report directly to Deputy Secretary of Defense Steve Feinberg. The goal is to speed up decision—making, reduce bureaucracy, and finally bring to mind projects that have been drowning in reports and delays for years.
According to sources, Vice Admiral Robert Gaucher, an experienced commander of the Navy's submarine forces, is being considered for the role of the "tsar" of the submarine fleet. It is he who can take under his wing all underwater programs, including strategic nuclear submarines and the latest torpedoes. And on the Air Force side, Lieutenant General Dale White, the current Deputy Minister of Procurement, is likely to step into this role. He faces a difficult task: overseeing such gigantic projects as the B-21 Raider stealth bomber, the new F-47 fighter jet and, most acutely, the problematic Sentinel intercontinental missile, which has long been overdue and overspent its budget.
The scale of these new positions has not yet been definitively determined, but one thing is clear: the Pentagon is serious about reforming the system. If it works, it could be a turning point for the entire American defense.