Acquisition Reform Advocate to Head House Armed Services Committee

• Mac Thornberry [R-TX] was selected [Breaking Defense] by the Republican steering committee to chair the House Armed Services Committee. He had been seen as the contender most likely to succeed retiring chairman Buck McKeon. Randy Forbes [R-VA] was also interested in the position. Thornberry volunteered to head an acquisition reform effort late last year.

• According to Reuters RD Amross – a tiny joint venture between Russian engine maker NPO Energomash and United Technologies – has been making millions of dollars in markups by importing and reselling RD-180 engines to the US Air Force with little apparent added value.