Gates's Top Deputies May Leave

Although President-elect Barack Obama's decision to keep Robert M. Gates at the helm of the Pentagon
will provide a measure of continuity for a military fighting two wars,
many of Gates's top deputies are expected to depart their jobs,
according

Deputy Defense Secretary Gordon England,
Gates's right-hand man in running the Pentagon day to day, is widely
expected to leave his post, said the officials, one of whom noted that
England's speechwriter is reportedly taking another job.

Leading candidates to replace England include Obama campaign adviser Richard J. Danzig,
who could eventually replace Gates; Pentagon transition review team
co-leader Michèle A. Flournoy; and possibly former Pentagon
comptroller William J. Lynn, said Obama transition officials and
sources close to the transition.

The anticipated turnover of many key positions suggests that
although Gates will help provide some continuity, the status quo will
not necessarily endure at the Pentagon.

Continuity is likely to come in the form of Gates and military
commanders leading the war effort in Iraq and Afghanistan, while a new
deputy and team of undersecretaries would manage the Pentagon and focus
on longer-range issues such as "the budget, the Quadrennial Defense
Review, missile defense, relations with allies and preparation for the
next crisis," said Michael O'Hanlon, a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution.

The four undersecretaries of defense are also expected to leave,
Pentagon and transition officials said. These include Undersecretary
for Policy Eric S. Edelman,
who has announced that he will depart by Jan. 20, with Flournoy also a
candidate to replace him. John J. Young Jr., undersecretary for
acquisition, technology and logistics, is "without question" leaving, a
source close to the transition said, noting that Gates has publicly
criticized the Pentagon's unwieldy acquisition process as shortchanging
U.S. troops in the field.

to senior defense and transition officials....

[bth: While Gates has turned out to be surprisingly good and worth keeping, the second and third tier appointments need to be completely replaced.  The level of incompetence and corruption in acquisitions for example has been unprecedented. Virtually the entire upper eschalon of the Air Force has been thrown out due to corruption and incompetence. The treatment of personnel and policies associated with the current military has been deplorable for another.  The militarization of intelligence gathering and the placement of 20,000 troops for 'homeland security' threatens the very core of our democracy and the relationship of the people with the military.  These are highly, highly dangerous and important issues.  ...There are both philosophical and pragmatic reasons these positions must be filled by competent individuals.  If ever there was a department in need of a 'throw the bums out' philosphy it is this DOD.]