Employer
Lockheed MartinMajor General Kenneth D. Merchant (USAF Ret.) was director, global reach programs, Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Acquisition. In that role he was the acquisition executive for airlift, air refueling, training and special operations programs. Before assuming that position he had been a program manager on the F-22 program. Shortly after he retired in 2014 he joined top Pentagon contractor Lockheed Martin to become an F-22 program manager, according to his Linkedin profile. He told POGO he did not have any direct contact with the Air Force during his cooling-off period.
Ethics laws are riddled with loopholes. Without transparency and more effective protections of the public interest the revolving door between senior Pentagon officials and officers and defense contractors may be costing American taxpayers billions.