[CPEO-MEF] I & E Reorganization

[Lenny Siegel <lsiegel@cpeo.org>]

The proposal to devolve certain Defense research programs to the Army
was contained in an August 6, 2002 memo signed by E.C. "Pete" Aldridge,
Undersecretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology, and Logistics.
The memo discusses the need to "put a sharper focus on our primary roles
of policy formulation and oversight." Congressional conferees, however,
concluded, "It is the conferees' understanding that these programs are
being transferred to achieve staffing and budget goals within OSD,
rather than to improve the execution or performance of the affected programs."

It is against this backdrop that another, more significant decision in
the Aldridge memo, should be judged. In one sentence, without
explanation, Aldridge's directs:

"Initiate actions to transfer Installations and Environmental personnel,
functions, and responsibilities to the Under Secretary of Defense
(Personnel and Readiness)."

This action, if carried out, could have an enormous impact beyond the
walls of the Pentagon. Possibly there are more benefits than costs. But
I'm concerned that Aldridge is handing off this slice of the bureaucracy
simply to streamline his own shop. The Defense Department may be harming
its relations with regulators, land managers, and communities it if
moves ahead with this reorganization without explaining it to and
consulting with the stakeholders who deal with the Installations and
Environment offices on a regular basis.

Lenny
-- 


Lenny Siegel
Director, Center for Public Environmental Oversight
c/o PSC, 278-A Hope St., Mountain View, CA 94041
Voice: 650/961-8918 or 650/969-1545
Fax: 650/961-8918
<lsiegel@cpeo.org>
http://www.cpeo.org

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~