The U.S. Air Force will stand up a new major command called Global Strike Command devoted strictly to the nuclear enterprise, the service announced Oct. 24 at the Pentagon. "We've taken many corrective actions in response to painful lessons learned," Air Force Secretary Michael Donley told reporters, but "more work remains to be done."
Air Force leaders released a so-called roadmap, titled "Reinvigorating the Air Force Nuclear Enterprise," that details major actions the service will take, including:
* Establish the new command, led by a three-star, lieutenant general, and a Headquarters Air Force staff office, both devoted to nuclear enterprise matters;
* Consolidate sustainment functions under Air Force Materiel Command's Air Force Nuclear Weapons Center;
* Improve nuclear stewardship in Air Force corporate processes; and
* Create strategic plans that address long-term nuclear requirements, including those for cruise missiles, bombers, dual-capable aircraft and intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs).
Nuclear-coded B-52 and B-2 bombers from the 8th Air Force and nuclear-tipped ICBMs under the 20th Air Force will fall under Global Strike Command instead. Yet the move splits the bomber force, with B-1s staying in Air Combat Command, according to the secretary.
The so-called Schlesinger Report - from the Secretary of Defense Task Force on Nuclear Weapons Management chaired by James Schlesinger, who has been both an energy and defense secretary - had recommended all bombers fall under a new command. But, Donley said, "We thought we should preserve the gains made in the last 15 years in making the bomber force more effective for support of theater [operations]."
Initial operating capability for the new command is expected in September 2009, officials said.
The decision to stand up a new major, nuclear command was made early this month at a conference of the air services' four-star generals (Aerospace DAILY, Oct. 9). The move follows the firing of the last Air Force secretary and chief of staff in June, as well as a series of disciplinary actions taken after nuclear management mishaps.
A definitive, high-level report last month detailed 180 corrective actions, costing up to $1.5 billion. 
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