Fifteen years ago, there were plenty of retiring generals and admirals who decided not to cash in their years of military experience for a high-paying position in the defense industry. In fact, less than 50% of retiring three- and four-star officers went to work as consultants or defense executives from 1994 to 1998.

 

Nowadays, it’s almost a given that America’s military leaders will accept a lucrative job that helps defense contractors earn billions of dollars from the Department of Defense. From 2004 through 2008, 80% of retiring three- and four-star officers joined the industry. In 2007 alone, 34 out of 39 such officers became defense executives or consultants.

 

The Globe found that defense contractors often recruit generals well before they retire, which calls into question their ability to make independent judgments while they are still in uniform. Private sector recruitment is so pervasive that the last seven generals and admirals in charge of international arms sales are all now helping defense contractors sell their weapons abroad.

 

A few examples from the retirement class of 2007:

 

·       Gen. John Abizaid, formerly responsible for all U.S. forces in the Middle East, founded his own consulting firm, JPA Partners, which provides “government and private sector liaison and linkage.”

·       Gen. Peter Pace, who retired as chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, is president and CEO of a consulting firm, SM&A, which claims that it has “Supported execution on more than 150 programs worth more than $1 Trillion.”

·       Lt. Gen. Edward Hanlon, Vice Adm. Stanley Szemborski, Vice Adm. James Zortman, and Vice Adm. Charles Munns all jumped onto the payroll of defense giant Northrop Grumman.

-David Wallechinsky, Noel Brinkerhoff

 

From the Pentagon to the Private Sector (by Bryan Bender, Boston Globe)

The 2007 Class of Retiring Generals (by Bryan Bender, Boston Globe)