WASHINGTON (AP) Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel said Friday there is "no room for error" by those responsible for U.S. nuclear forces, commenting publicly for the first time on what he called "troubling lapses" in professionalism within the nuclear ranks.
Speaking at the headquarters of the military's nuclear war-fighting command in Omaha, Nebraska, Hagel alluded to a series of missteps revealed in recent months by The Associated Press, including lapses among those who operate and support the Air Force's nuclear missile force. Last month, two senior nuclear commanders were fired amid misconduct investigations, and in August, service members working at a nuclear-missile base in Montana failed a safety and security inspection.
"You have chosen a profession where there is no room for error," Hagel said, directing his remarks to the hundreds gathered at U.S. Strategic Command for a change-of-command ceremony. "That's what the American people expect from you, from all of us. And you must deliver."
Hagel did not mention specific examples of nuclear lapses, but he left no doubt that he expects the top commanders to enforce the strictest standards of behavior and performance. He said that means accepting nothing less than perfection.
"As you know, this close scrutiny and the most rigorous evaluations that we have within the Department of Defense have recently exposed some troubling lapses in maintaining this professionalism," he said.