22 Jul AOPA Report: DHS In Disarray
The current and ongoing investigation by AOPA into the mysterious rash of GA pilot detentions by Customs and Border Protection and Department of Homeland Security officials – at gunpoint – reveals a completely dysfunctional governmental agency in total disarray, lacking any accountability or managerial oversight. Management positions vacant for as long as two years and numerous key management positions filled by “acting” staffers show an unaccountable, mismanaged agency charged with national security. Following numerous inquiries at all levels for explanations have gone unanswered, except to state essentially that no explanation will be given, as this is a matter of national security. What these searches are supposed to find and who is being targeted remains a mystery.
According to the AOPA report, head of the nation’s third largest agency, DHS Secretary Janet Nepalitano, and about 1/3 of its top leadership have either left or essentially have one foot out the door. AOPA’s VP of Operations and International Affairs Craig Spence, a career officer at Homeland Security, noted that with the departure of Nepalitano, the top two positions will be vacant. Of the 45 top positions, 15 are vacant or filled by acting individuals, providing no clear strategic guidance.
The full AOPA video is embedded in this page and VASI members are encouraged to report their experiences with DHS and CBP detentions to AOPA. Although there are no numbers to support it, the most logical conclusion would suggest that this will have a marked effect on General Aviation and in all likelihood further cripple the industry already reeling from a bad economy, over regulation, skyrocketing fuel prices, softening demand and environmental opposition.
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