AF Steps Up Nuclear Weapons Oversight

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AF Steps Up Nuclear Weapons Oversight
May 13, 2008
Knight Ridder

After the Air Force mistakenly flew nuclear weapons from North Dakota to Louisiana last year, the U.S. Strategic Command is taking a more active role in making sure nuclear stockpiles are safely stored and maintained, StratCom's commander says.

StratCom inspectors now accompany Air Force officials on every nuclear safety and maintenance check, Air Force Gen. Kevin Chilton said in an interview.

StratCom also is planning live exercises and leading an internal review of its policies and the command's organization to foster a stronger focus on the nuclear deterrent mission -- the historic core of StratCom's predecessor at Offutt Air Force Base, the Strategic Air Command.

"What we're doing now, and what we had stopped doing, is sending StratCom headquarters people out to observe the nuclear . . . inspections," said the former astronaut who took command of StratCom in October.

"For every inspection that's gone on out there, we've now had headquarters personnel there," Chilton said.


Rest of article at: http://www.military.com/news/article/af-steps-up-nuclear-weapons-oversight.html