Three Reasons Why Robert Gates is a Great Secretary of Defense

When Robert M. Gates was sworn in as the nation's Secretary of Defense in December 2006, it marked a change of direction for the Defense Department. Gates' style of leadership is a departure from that of his predecessor, Donald Rumsfeld. His forward thinking and no nonsense approach is both refreshing and effective. Here are three reasons why Robert Gates is doing a great job as Secretary of Defense.

Meeting the Challenges of 21st Century Threats

Reason Number 1: Robert Gates is shaping Defense Department strategy to cope with not only conventional threats (those from other nations) but also from unconventional threats such as terrorism and extremist insurgencies. The latter group often originate from failed or failing states and use irregular warfare tactics that require defense strategies that are different from those used to combat conventional threats. In an essay published in the January/February 2009 issue of the magazine Foreign Affairs, Gates wrote that balance was the defining principle of the Pentagon's defense strategy. This balanced approach means that while maintaining the ability to fight a conventional war is important, the United States must develop strategies, tactics, and weapons systems that can be used in fighting unconventional threats.

It would seem that the need for Pentagon spending to combat these unconventional threats would be obvious, but support for weapons systems to fight conventional wars runs deep in the defense industry and in Congress. After all, defense dollars spent in a Congressman's district means jobs for constituents, whether the Pentagon wants the weapons system or not. In 2009, Gates went before Congress and insisted on spending for what is needed for the military to carry out its mission, and not for what is wanted by members of Congress. For example, he recommended ending production of the F-22 Raptor fighter plane, conceived during the Cold War to fight against the Soviets, in favor of increasing production of the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter jet. Lobbyists, lawmakers, and people within the Pentagon itself pushed hard to keep the F-22 program alive. Gates stood his ground, even firing two Air Force officials who supported the program. He got his way.

Gates is not out to cut the defense budget, but he is trying to change some priorities and shift some spending into areas that need it. With soldiers being wounded and killed by roadside bombs in Afghanistan and Iraq, Gates saw the need for better armored vehicles. He got the money to ramp up production of mine resistant ambush protected vehicles, or MRAPs.

Holding People Accountable

Those two Air Force officials who supported the F-22 program aren't the only ones Robert Gates has fired. Gates set the tone early in his tenure as Secretary of Defense that people would be held accountable. In early 2007, Gates fired three Army officials, including the Secretary of the Army, after news reports exposed terrible conditions for wounded soldiers at Walter Reed Army Medical Center. In 2008, he fired Secretary of the Air Force and the Air Force Chief of Staff over poor handling of nuclear materials. In one incident, a B-52 bomber was mistakenly loaded with nuclear weapons and flown from North Dakota to Louisiana. The weapons were unaccounted for over a 36 hour period. In May of 2009, citing the need for new thinking and innovation in fighting the war in Afghanistan, Gates replaced the U.S. commander in charge there with Lt. General Stanley McChrystal, considered to be an expert in counterinsurgency warfare. And in February 2010, Gates fired the general in charge of the F-35 jet program, and withheld $614 million in performance bonuses from the project's contractor. The program has had cost overruns and performance issues.

These moves show that Gates does not tolerate business as usual. He kicks butt and takes names. Accountability is of paramount importance and underperformance is no longer an option.

Works Well With Both Republicans and Democrats

Robert Gates was appointed Secretary of Defense by Republican President George W. Bush. He was wisely retained by President Barack Obama, a Democrat. His transition between administrations appears to have been seamless. He is said to have an excellent working relationship with Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. He has respect on both sides of the aisle in Congress, despite stepping on some toes in the budget process. In an era of polarized partisanship, where the two sides cannot agree that the sky is blue, Gates focuses on doing what is right instead of on who is right.

Gates has been in public service for over 40 years and it remains to be seen if he'll stay on as Secretary of Defense until the conclusion of Obama's term. His successor will have a tough act to follow.

Sources:

Barnes, Julian E. "Top U.S. Commander in Afghanistan to Step Down". Los Angeles Times, May 12, 2009.

Gates, Robert M. "A Balanced Strategy: Reprogramming the Pentagon for a New Age" Foreign Affairs, January/February 2009.

Klein, Joe. "Robert Gates: The Bureaucrat Unbound". Time Magazine, May 28, 2009.

Lubold, Gordon. "When Gates Stared Down the F-22 Lobbyists". The Christian Science Monitor, September 28, 2009.

Rubin, Elizabeth. "The Survivor". Time Magazine, February 15, 2010.

Tyson, Ann Scott and Josh White. "Two Top Air Force Officials Ousted". Washington Post, June 6, 2008.

Whitlock, Craig. "Defense Secretary Gates Fires General in Charge of Joint Strike Fighter Program". Washington Post, February 2, 2010.