On Tue, 2005-02-15 at 17:31, Neil Schneider wrote: > RBW1 said: > > On Tue, 2005-02-15 at 10:28, Todd Walton wrote: > >> On Tue, 15 Feb 2005 01:50:32 -0800 (PST), Neil Schneider > >> <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > >> > > >> > It's not a coincedence that the whole board of directors is all > >> > retired high-ranking military officers, however. > >> > >> Good point. Very well put. > >> > >> You don't have to be paranoid to recognize that SAIC holds a > >> position > >> with the federal government that few other companies do. A position > >> beyond simple "contractor". > >> > >> -todd > > > > Good point? > > > > Is there a relationship between the contracts SAIC is pursuing and the > > expertise of those "retired high-ranking military officers" (Either > > technical or business development contact-wise) on the board of SAIC? > > > > If there is, would it make more business sense for them to have a > > board > > of directors full of retired high ranking performers of the American > > Ballet Theater? Or maybe the National Association of Real Estate > > Appraisers or some other area lacking basic knowledge of the contract > > process of the Fed Gov't and defense needs in particular? > > How much "real" expertise of the contract process of the Federal Gov't > do you think 3 and 4 start generals have? I think their expertise is > in cozying up to other generals and politicians that can get them > public as well as "black" contracts. It may be true that expertise in > American Ballet Theater or Real Estate has little relevance in getting > Gov't contracts. But I think it's a stretch to think that retired > military officers have any special skills related to gettting > contracts other than the ability to shmooze and knowing where the > bodies are buried.
Well they don't call them "General" officers for nothing. They all have to have a wide range of branch service and inter-service knowledge. Most high ranking officers covet a real command which means the others are in staff positions dealing with policy, process, procedures, procurement, planning etc, etc while waiting... Probably what an SAIC is looking for (Andrews, Downing and Jones)... Besides, Schmoozing isn't a skill you can be lacking and also be as valuable as the next guy, and as long as Washington operates the way it does (and it has every since and before Eisenhower warned us) you need this "relationship" ability. The revolving door is what it is and both of the major parties make sure it stays in place and is available to the careerists in every branch of service and every department of every nook and cranny of government... RBW -- [email protected] http://www.kernel-panic.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/kplug-list
