Pentagon V-22 decision equals true transformation
The Center for Security Policy welcomed the Defense Acquisition Board’s long-awaited decision Wednesday to approve full-rate production of the V-22 Osprey, the Marine Corps-Special Operations hybrid helicopter-airplane that will support the sorts of missions the United States military will have to undertake in the 21st Century.
The V-22 is, indeed, a truly transformational technology. Its ability to take off and land like a helicopter yet fly like an airplane, combined with its capacity to haul more troops and equipment farther, faster and with greater survivability than existing helicopters ensures that it will be of enormous value in future actions requiring long-range, swift and stealthy projection of ground forces. Over the years of the Osprey’s development, myriad government and independent analyses have demonstrated that the V-22 is by far the most effective and affordable alternative for meeting the needs of the Marine Corps and Special Operations forces.
The potential applications of the tiltrotor technology perfected in the V-22, moreover, extend beyond military activities. These include: search and rescue, homeland security, emergency response to the use of weapons of mass destruction and commercial aviation.
Bipartisan congressional supporters, civilian defense analysts and, of course, the U.S. Marine Corps deserve no small measure of credit for keeping the program alive during its periodic developmental difficulties and despite successive efforts to slow down or terminate the program outright. For its part, the Center for Security Policy has steadfastly believed that the V-22 would be truly a transformational weapon system and urged that it be brought to bear at the earliest possible time.
The Center’s President, Frank J. Gaffney, Jr., said on learning of the Pentagon’s decision to begin full-rate production of the Osprey: "With this critical milestone, the V-22 has truly shown that it deserves to be known as the Phoenix, as well as the Osprey. It has vindicated the confidence of its supporters and validated the hard work over many years of those who developed and built this aircraft – truly one of the most extraordinary technological achievements in the history of aviation. The tiltrotor technology proven by the V-22 will serve this country, and its men and women in uniform, with distinction for generations to come."
Mr. Gaffney is the host of Secure Freedom Radio, a nationally-syndicated radio program heard weeknights throughout the country. He is an associate author of highly acclaimed Shariah: The Threat to America and the publisher of over a dozen other books and monographs from the Center for Security Policy Press.
In April 1987, Mr. Gaffney was nominated by President Reagan to become the Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Policy, the senior position in the Defense Department with responsibility for policies involving U.S.-USSR relations, nuclear forces, arms control, missile defense policy and U.S.-European defense ties. He acted in that capacity for seven months during which time, he was the Chairman of the prestigious High Level Group, NATO’s senior politico-military committee. He also represented the Secretary of Defense in key U.S.-Soviet negotiations and ministerial meetings.
From August 1983 until November 1987, Mr. Gaffney was the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Nuclear Forces and Arms Control Policy under Assistant Secretary Richard Perle.
From February 1981 to August 1983, Mr. Gaffney was a Professional Staff Member on the Senate Armed Services Committee, chaired by the late Senator John Tower (R-Texas). And, in the latter 1970’s, Mr. Gaffney served as an aide to the late Senator Henry M. “Scoop” Jackson (D-Washington) in the areas of defense and foreign policy.
Mr. Gaffney holds a Master of Arts degree in International Studies from the Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies and a Bachelor of Science in Foreign Service from the Georgetown University School of Foreign Service.
Mr. Gaffney’s leadership has been recognized by numerous organizations including: the Department of Defense Distinguished Public Service Award (1987), the U.S. Business and Industry Council’s Defender of the National Interest Award (1994), the Navy League of the United States’ Alfred Thayer Mahan Literary Achievement Award (1999), and the Zionist Organization of America’s “Louis Brandeis Award” (2003), the Western Conservative Summit’s Stephen H. Long Award (2015), the Council for National Policy’s George Washington Military Leadership Award (2016) and the IMPACT Award from Ginni Thomas and United in Purpose (2017).
Mr. Gaffney was born in 1953 and resides in the Washington, D.C. area.
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