{"id":51737,"date":"2019-09-16T09:00:49","date_gmt":"2019-09-16T09:00:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/uncategorized\/2019\/09\/16\/us-air-forces-acting-secretary-talks-space-force-new-fighters-and-his-next-move\/"},"modified":"2026-08-07T23:49:13","modified_gmt":"2026-08-07T23:49:13","slug":"us-air-forces-acting-secretary-talks-space-force-new-fighters-and-his-next-move","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/digital-show-dailies\/2019\/09\/16\/us-air-forces-acting-secretary-talks-space-force-new-fighters-and-his-next-move\/","title":{"rendered":"US Air Force\u2019s acting secretary talks Space Force, new fighters and his next move"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">WASHINGTON \u2014 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.defensenews.com\/interviews\/2017\/11\/06\/interview-air-force-under-secretary-matt-donovan-talks-services-relationship-with-congress\/\" target=_blank>Acting U.S. Air Force Secretary Matt Donovan<\/a> has spent three months in the service\u2019s top civilian position <a href=\"https:\/\/www.defensenews.com\/air\/2019\/05\/16\/heather-wilsons-air-force-legacy-fierce-advocate-for-the-service-and-shrewd-political-operator\/\" target=_blank>after former Secretary Heather Wilson resigned in May<\/a>, but it seems like his time may be coming to an end as Congress debates <a href=\"https:\/\/www.airforcetimes.com\/news\/your-air-force\/2019\/05\/21\/trump-taps-barbara-barrett-former-aerospace-corporation-chair-as-next-air-force-secretary\/\" target=_blank>the nomination of former Aerospace Corp. chairwoman Barbara Barrett.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A former F-15 pilot, Donovan became the Air Force\u2019s undersecretary in August 2017. He has described himself as the point person charged with building the budget. As the service\u2019s chief information officer, he has also been the service\u2019s biggest champion of its <a href=\"https:\/\/www.airforcetimes.com\/news\/your-air-force\/2019\/07\/10\/air-force-unveils-digital-air-force-initiative\/\" target=_blank>\u201cDigital Air Force\u201d business plan<\/a> to overhaul its data management, IT architecture and business operations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Whereas Wilson \u2014 though publicly supportive of<a href=\"https:\/\/www.defensenews.com\/space\/2018\/12\/20\/trumps-new-space-force-to-reside-under-department-of-the-air-force\/\" target=_blank> the Space Force<\/a> \u2014 criticized certain elements of the Defense Department\u2019s space reorganization effort, Donovan\u2019s three months as the Air Force head have been defined by unwavering support for the plan to reform military space.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Just days before Barrett\u2019s confirmation hearing on Sept. 12, Donovan met with Defense News for an interview ahead of the Air Force\u2019s major conference.<\/p>\n\n\n\t<aside class=\"smg-interstitial-link wp-block-smg-interstitial-link\">\n\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/digital-show-dailies\/paris-air-show\/2019\/06\/20\/interim-air-force-secretary-ive-always-supported-the-space-force\/\" class=\"smg-interstitial-link__inner\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"smg-interstitial-link__media\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"214\" src=\"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/190214-F-YT646-0155.JPG.jpg?w=300\" class=\"smg-interstitial-link__image wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" \/>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"smg-interstitial-link__content\">\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"smg-interstitial-link__kicker\">Related<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"smg-interstitial-link__title\">Interim Air Force secretary: I\u2019ve always supported the Space Force<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"smg-interstitial-link__excerpt\">The acting Air Force secretary plans to back elements of the administration&#039;s Space Force plan that his predecessor did not.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t<\/aside>\n\t\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><b>Barbara Barrett, the nominee for the next Air Force secretary, has her hearing in a couple of days. A vote on her confirmation, we hear, will happen soon after that. The elephant in the room is: Will you stay on as undersecretary?<\/b><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">(Laughs) I need a job. I have a kid still in college, so yeah.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><b>Have you met her yet? What sort of relationship do you expect?<\/b><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">I think it\u2019ll be a really good relationship. I called her after the president first announced [the nomination] back in May to congratulate her. We had about an hour-long discussion about Air Force things and the way of the future. We don\u2019t do a lot of interaction while she\u2019s in the pre-confirmation because of the presumption of confirmation, but I did have a meeting with her this week and we talked about some of the big issues that are going to come up during the confirmation hearing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><b>During your speech at the Defense News Conference on Sept. 4, you mentioned there would be controversial changes in the next budget. You hinted aircraft could be divested. <\/b><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">I talked about legacy capabilities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><b>That often involves aircraft, right?<\/b><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It\u2019s not wrong, but we are much more than aircraft as well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"4000\" height=\"2250\" src=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/GettyImages-1136083950.jpg.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-9042\" srcset=\"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/GettyImages-1136083950.jpg.jpg 4000w, https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/GettyImages-1136083950.jpg.jpg?resize=300,169 300w, https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/GettyImages-1136083950.jpg.jpg?resize=768,432 768w, https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/GettyImages-1136083950.jpg.jpg?resize=1024,576 1024w, https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/GettyImages-1136083950.jpg.jpg?resize=1536,864 1536w, https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/GettyImages-1136083950.jpg.jpg?resize=2048,1152 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 4000px) 100vw, 4000px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">An Air Force  A-10 warthog maneuvers next to mountains during a live fire exercises, as part of the annual US-Philippines joint military exercise at Crow Valley, in Capas town, Tarlac province, north of Manila on April 10, 2019. (TED ALJIBE\/AFP\/Getty Images)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><b>Is the service divesting aircraft? Is it canceling new programs? Is it getting rid of other capacities in other areas?<\/b><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Yes. You\u2019re exactly right. It\u2019s not unlike the Army\u2019s night court. What [Defense] Secretary [Mark] Esper has brought up to the OSD [Office of the Secretary of Defense] level now that he\u2019s the secretary of defense, which is to take a look at everything we do. We have a huge organization, and have to make sure it\u2019s in line with the national defense strategy that [former Defense] Secretary [Jim] Mattis first laid out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Army went through its night court, I think it was the last budget cycle where they were taking a look at lower priority projects that maybe don\u2019t quite align. The Air Force actually started that. I ran a process, which we call a \u201czero base review,\u201d that started back in 2017. We\u2019ve done that for actually two years now, and we\u2019re also in the process of doing that for the FY21 [budget]. We\u2019ve already submitted our budget to [the Office of the Secretary of Defense], and now we start the knife-fighting phase, right at what we call the program and budget review. OSD is now examining our budgets, all of the service budgets, all of the defense agency budgets, and seeing if they align with the original defense-planning guidance that was put out for us to build our budgets to.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><b>Now that the Air Force has finished that planning, can you say how much would be able to be diverted from legacy capabilities to emerging priorities?<\/b><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Army had said $25 billion or something like that. The reason why I hesitate to say it is because we don\u2019t know if all these proposals are going to be accepted yet once we get into the program and budget review. If I gave you a number now, it [might] change by the time our budget [is] rolled out. Because not only do we go through the OSD level review; now it has to go to the Office of Management and Budget in the White House, and they have to accept all of our proposals as well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><b>Do you expect a protracted, years-long process with Congress? Or do you feel comfortable that when the Air Force does start talking to Congress, you will have enough detail and assurances about these changes for lawmakers?<\/b><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We\u2019ve talked about [how] the Air Force is too small for what the nation needs. We know we need to grow. How we grow and in what ways we grow is sort of the rub. If we\u2019re going to divest a legacy platform, or divest a legacy capability, it doesn\u2019t mean that we\u2019re going to divest units or people or jobs. What we\u2019ll do is they\u2019ll shift. They\u2019ll be repurposed into the Air Force that we need, which is advanced capabilities, those sorts of things. We\u2019ve done this in the past.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We replaced them with newer airplanes from the active duty, so we ended up drawing down the active duty, but we tried to keep it into a balance of what we need, and that will satisfy constituencies. For example, when we decided not to proceed with the JSTARS recap, we said the advanced battle management system is going to have the same mission, but it\u2019s going to be done in a vastly different way, and somebody needs to do it. Why wouldn\u2019t we use the same people who are experts in that mission like the JSTARS folks?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><b>Is the squadron goal of 386 still a priority? If so, when will we see squadrons added? <\/b><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The one thing that we\u2019ve always said about the 386 [squadron goal] is that we\u2019ve been absolutely clear about what the requirement is. We\u2019re articulating the requirement for the size of the Air Force for what we need to execute the National Defense Strategy. Whether they decide to fund it or not is not our call. That\u2019s between the White House and the Congress.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The 386 [number] was arrived at with deep analysis based on our current plans, current programs of record and the current way we fight \u2014 our current concepts of operation. I absolutely stick by it, but in the newest [Senate Armed Services Committee version of the] FY20 [defense policy bill], there\u2019s a requirement in there for us to provide a report on the Air Force\u2019s future design alternatives. So in other words, we know we need to grow, but in what ways?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For example, we said that we need to increase the number of large-wing ISR [intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance] squadrons. That\u2019s because [of] current programs of record, the current operation plans of requirements and the current concepts of operations. Well, you know that the advanced battle management system and multidomain command and control is not likely to include large-wing command-and-control airplanes, or ISR airplanes. We\u2019re going to be transitioning to something else. All those things that guys at the Air Force Warfighting Integration Capability group, are working really hard on as future design alternatives.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><b>How are the discussions going with the House and Senate Armed Services committees about amending Title 10 to include a Space Force? Why does the Senate side seem hesitant to make that change? <\/b><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Well, the Senate is the deliberative body of the Congress. They take a lot of time to do this, and I\u2019m OK with that because one of the things I like about the Senate is its phased implementation approach to Space Force.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">One of their overriding concerns is cost. I think it was unfortunate that the discussion immediately snapped to cost and bureaucracy and [the question of whether we] can afford this. Those are all of course valid questions, but I\u2019d pose a different question. What are the costs of losing a war? What are the costs of getting behind technologically, militarily, against a superior competitor? I think those are the real questions we should be talking about now, understanding that we\u2019re not going to have a bottomless bucket of money to do this either. That\u2019s why I\u2019ve always been an advocate of creating a 21st century service, built for the information age.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">I get a lot of pushback from folks sometimes like that, and they go: &#8220;Well, you\u2019ve got to create a service that fits in the existing organization on the Pentagon.\u201d I go: &#8220;Do we? Or do we create a pathfinder service where the other services now go?\u201d I think we need a reform and to start looking like a 21st century service. The services, the way they exist today, are largely based on a Napoleonic form of warfare \u2014 they are very hierarchical, they\u2019re very bureaucratic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">I\u2019m pushing our folks that are coming up with the initial planning for the Space Force to show me a flat, agile, rapid organization that we can use as a headquarters for staff. That\u2019s some of the discussions that I\u2019ve been having with SASC members and SASC staffers about how we can do that. It\u2019s almost a chicken or the egg because they go: \u201cWell, show us how you\u2019re going to put the staff together.\u201d And then we say: \u201cWell, show us what you\u2019re going to authorize us to do.\u201d We get in this circular argument. Really, the priority, as the president and the vice president have so eloquently articulated time after time, is we need a sixth branch of the armed forces to unleash the potential for space. The only way we can do that is modifying Title 10 of the U.S. code, which lays out all the other services and their responsibilities and their authorities and how they organize strength.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><b>Lt. Gen. Steve Kwast, the former Air Education and Training Command head who retired Sept. 1, has generated controversy for publicly speaking out in favor of a Space Force, and he\u2019s amassed some support from associates who think he should have a leadership role in the new service. Is there a role for Kwast to play within the Space Force?<\/b><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The president can appoint anybody he wants to any position. There could be [a position for him], but that would be up to the president.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><b>I\u2019ve been talking to the Air Force\u2019s acquisition executive, Will Roper, about his idea for another Century Series and how to apply that to the Air Force\u2019s Next Generation Air Dominance program. What are your thoughts about the risks and advantages for such an approach?<\/b><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We have to take a look at the context and the difference between today and where we were in the late \u201950s and \u201960s with the Century Series. I actually started talking with Dr. Roper about this a long time ago, after he came in, and because during the late \u201950s and \u201960s we actually built 11 prototypes in the Century Series around that time and we fielded six different airplanes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The exciting thing about it today is that maybe we finally have a way to make our defense-industrial base more robust again. At that time, I think we had eight or 10 major aircraft manufacturers that build military airplanes. After the Reagan buildup, we went into the so-called peace dividend at the end of the Cold War; a lot of those [companies] ended up consolidating. [Those companies] were told: \u201cLook if you\u2019re going to survive, you\u2019re going to have to merge.\u201d That ends up presenting a problem to us because we end up with a lot less competition than what we used to have, and more importantly [we need to] be able to maintain the workforce.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">What we end up talking about in his Century Series approach is almost an elite product-type approach. In other words, we develop an advanced capability, we make a prototyping decision, and if the prototype works out, then we make a fielding decision. We don\u2019t end up getting locked into a 35- or 40-year aircraft development procurement program like the F-35.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We\u2019ll receive our last F-35 in the year 2040. I just can\u2019t imagine that even 20 years from now at the pace of technological advance that that\u2019s going to be an appropriate use of taxpayer dollars. We\u2019ve gotten our defense-industrial base to where it\u2019s a winner-take-all, and it\u2019s a life-or-death situation for the future of a company if they don\u2019t win a competition. Whereas if we get into that elite product Century Series fighter-type approach, we can make a prototype and then a fielding decision \u2014 we buy a small number of airplanes. Then at the same time, whoever did not win that competition now gets an award to develop the next project. I think that\u2019s a healthy way to approach it to keep our workforce healthy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2016\" height=\"1512\" src=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/KC46-ceremony.jpg.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-34449\" srcset=\"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/KC46-ceremony.jpg.jpg 2016w, https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/KC46-ceremony.jpg.jpg?resize=300,225 300w, https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/KC46-ceremony.jpg.jpg?resize=768,576 768w, https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/KC46-ceremony.jpg.jpg?resize=1024,768 1024w, https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/KC46-ceremony.jpg.jpg?resize=1536,1152 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2016px) 100vw, 2016px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A KC-46 is displayed  on Jan. 24, 2019 at Boeing&#8217;s production facility in Everett, Wash., ahead of a ceremony marking the first KC-46 delivery. (Valerie Insinna\/Staff)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><b>Are you satisfied with the progress on the KC-46? <\/b><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Generally we\u2019re satisfied with the progress that we\u2019re making. It\u2019s a tough problem, but we\u2019ve got to hold Boeing accountable for what they\u2019d promised they deliver on the contract. It has to be an acceptable capability that provides capabilities on war fronts. The [KC-46\u2019s camera] system in its current state does not do that.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><b>What\u2019s the conversation between Boeing and the Air Force on the Ground Based Strategic Deterrent? Boeing previously said a joint bid with Northrop Grumman would not be feasible, but is now promoting the idea. Has there been a change to the solicitation to make that solution more palatable? <\/b><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">I really can\u2019t talk about that because we\u2019re still in source selection. The [request for proposals], it doesn\u2019t favor one manufacturer over another, but it also doesn\u2019t disallow teaming concepts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><i>Corrected Sept. 16, 2019 at 8:52 a..m. to amend the date of the last F-35 delivery. <\/i><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Acting U.S. Air Force Secretary Matt Donovan gave the Pentagon&#8217;s space reorganization plan his unwavering support. 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