Gates said he would recommend closing the Norfolk, Virginia-based US Joint Forces Command, which was set up to oversee training and foster coordination among the US military services.
He questioned the need for US four-star generals in Europe for each of the military services, and directed a review of all top positions to be completed by November 1.
"At a minimum, I expect this effort to recommend cutting at least 50 general and flag officer positions and 150 senior civilian executive positions over the next two years," Gates said.
"These reductions would represent 50 percent of the total growth in senior military and civilian positions since 2000," he said. "That's the minimum."
In the meantime, he said he ordered a freeze on the number of positions in his office, defense agencies and at combatant commands for the next three years, and said no positions would be created to replace contractors.
Since September 2001, the number of generals and admirals has grown by more than 100, and there were now 40 four-star positions, Gates said. He put the increase in the number of senior civilian positions at more than 300.
"We need to create a system of fewer, flatter and more agile and responsive structures, where reductions in rank at the top create a virtuous cascading downward and outward," he said.
Additionally, he ordered a freeze in the number of senior executives in defense intelligence organizations and a comprehensive review of the department's intelligence activities to eliminate "needless duplication."
By: Brant
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