Returns To Private Life
Peter B. Teets
announced his voluntary resignation Friday as the acting secretary
of the Air Force. He served as the acting secretary since Jan 18th.
Teets held positions as the undersecretary of the Air Force, DOD
executive agent for space and the head of the National
Reconnaissance Office since 2001. His resignation is effective Mar
25th.
"I'm honored to have served the president, the secretary of
defense and with the dedicated Airmen of America's Air Force and
the men and women of the National Reconnaissance Office over the
past three years," Mr. Teets said in the Air Force Print News.
"I'm confident we've strengthened the world's greatest Air Force
to continue providing air and space dominance for the 21st century,
as well as built a lasting national security space strategy to
leverage space for America's national security advantage."
"Mr. Teets has led the Air Force through a critical transition
period, and it has been my honor to serve with him," said Air Force
Chief of Staff Gen. John P. Jumper. "Mr. Teets' visionary
leadership with his dual responsibilities as the undersecretary of
the Air Force and director of the National Reconnaissance Office
has placed space capabilities in the hands of warriors for the
first time."
Teets leaves the Air Force after three years of service to
return to private life. "We've come a long way in three years," he
said. "If you examine how we've been able to pool our talents,
collaborate across our stovepipe programs and create national-level
policy initiatives and insights, it is pretty obvious to me that
this is the result of national security space integration."
"Our space systems, whether integrated with airborne and surface
sensors or acting alone over areas of high risk or denied access,
provide critical surveillance and reconnaissance information to
national decision makers and combatant commanders, he said. "These
space capabilities enable the tremendous success that our joint
warfighters achieved during combat operations in Afghanistan and
Iraq and will continue to be a cornerstone for future success
during conflict."
Teets had a long and productive career before assuming these
positions with the Air Force. He joined Martin Marietta in
1963 as an engineer, and worked his way into the several executive
positions, including President of Martin Marietta Space Group.
After the merger with Lockheed, he became president and chief
operating officer of Lockheed Martin.
"Mr. Teets has built a lasting space strategy that truly enables
the success of our joint warfighting team," General Jumper said.
"The Air Force will remember him as an innovative leader and
friend. He will always be an Airman."