US Official Disciplined over USAF Thunderbirds Contract

The US Military confirmed on the 17^th April that Michael Wynne, the USAF Secretary, had disciplined a high-ranking official at the Pentagon, as well as four other individuals, over a multi-million pound contract after an inquiry found that it was "tainted with improper influence."

USAF Aerial Demonstration Team

The deal had a value of $50 million, and was to do with the Thunderbirds - the USAF's Aerial Demonstration Team.

The Thunderbirds - equipped with six Lockheed Martin F-16 Fighting Falcons - take part in a number of US airshows each year, as well as occasional overseas tours.

The precise nature of Wynne's actions are unknown, but they were directed at Pentagon Joint Staff Vice Director, Major General Stephen Goldfein.

A spokesman for the USAF did not elaborate on the level of discipline used, but highlighted how the scope of possible punishment went from verbal chastisement to a formal letter.

The four other individuals were all airmen, and of colonel or sub-colonel rank.

The Thunderbirds are based at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada. Mr Goldfein headed the Nellis-based Air Warfare Center at the time when the Thunderbirds contract was given to the Strategic Message Solutions firm.

US Defense Department Inquiry

Wynne's intervention occurred after a US Defense Department inquiry discovered the contract to be "tainted with improper influence, irregular contracting practices and preferential treatment for the winning company."

The report represented a new setback for the USAF, coming, as it did, a few years after a previous large-scale aircraft acquisition scandal. The previous event sparked Mr Wynne's predecessor, James Roche, to hand in his notice.

Some reports suggested that Michael Moseley, USAF Chief of Staff, had also been involved in the Thunderbirds contract. However, a spokesman for the air force has commented that the inquiry did not find Moseley to have done wrong.

The USAF cancelled the contract when Standing Room Only, the company that lost to Strategic Message Solutions, complained.

Standing Room Only contested that its bid was substantially lower in cost than that of its counterpart, but Strategic Message Solutions was victorious as it had links to prominent USAF officers.

Subsequently, Strategic filed a lawsuit calling for the contract to be reactivated, saying that figures, including Moseley, had promised it the position.

USAF Favouritism

Moseley, as well as Wynne, has called for leaders in the USAF to steer clear of favouritism when it comes to contracts.

"Our efforts to restore public confidence and ensure openness and transparency in the acquisition process are undermined when individuals are given special access or treatment by senior leaders based on prior professional or personal relationships", the pair said in a letter.

Source - Armed Forces International's Aviation Expert

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