Air University (U S ) Air Command and; Kissiar, Niki J.
Synopsis "Reinvigorating the Nuclear Enterprise"
Fifteen years ago, finding itself strapped for resources and desperately needing to draw down after the Cold War, the Air Force accepted risk by decreasing the number of MAJCOMs and reducing the number of career fields it maintained. As part of this initiative, they assigned ICBM forces to Air Force Space Command and merged the ICBM and Space operations career fields. What has occurred since the reorganization has diluted a career field once deep with nuclear experience. What remains is an environment where the Air Forces best and brightest nuclear officers transfer to space mission areas at the earliest opportunity because they understand that their skill set is not valued and they will not be competitive for promotion or command. Numerous studies since the merger warned of the risks of a reduced focus on the nuclear career field and mission. Within the past two years, significant mishaps have occurred where nuclear personnel mishandled nuclear related materials. This resulted in a range of Department of Defense agencies directing independent studies to determine the root cause of the problems now plaguing the nuclear enterprise in hopes to regain public trust in the military's ability to maintain a safe, credible nuclear deterrent. While the independent reviews look at the entire nuclear enterprise, theyThis work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work was reproduced from the original artifact, and remains as true to the original work as possible. Therefore, you will see the original copyright references, library stamps (as most of these works have been housed in our most important libraries around the world), and other notations in the work.This work is in the public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work.As a reproduction of a historical artifact, this work may contain missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.
