Lack of leadership in DoD’s personnel and readiness office could be detrimental, analysts say

The removal of David Shulkin as Veterans Affairs Department secretary at the end of March did more than make waves in the VA. It also caused a shuffle in leadership at one of the Defense Department’s most neglected offices.

Robert Wilkie is now the acting VA secretary, but before that he barely had a chance to warm his seat as the Defense undersecretary for personnel and readiness.

Wilkie is now technically serving in both roles, but the office of personnel and readiness seems in dire straits. The office has five presidentially-appointed and Senate-confirmed leadership positions. All of those positions, except for Wilkie’s, are currently vacant or have someone performing the duties until the Trump administration appoints a person to fill the role.

That can cause some serious issues for the Defense Department, which constantly states its people are the most important assets.

“It’s critical that the administration have its people in the roles to promote their agenda,” said Todd Weiler, former assistant secretary of defense for manpower and reserve affairs under President Obama. Weiler’s former position is one of the five currently without an appointee.

Read the full article at Federal News Radio