'Independent' CAPE gets F-35 zealot as new deputy director

The CAPE will get a new deputy director.

Here is what the CAPE's 'about' page says:

The office provides independent analytic advice to the Secretary of Defense on all aspects of the Defense program, including alternative weapon systems and force structures, the development and evaluation of defense program alternatives, and the cost-effectiveness of defense systems. The office also conducts analyses and offers advice in a number of related areas, such as military medical care, school systems for military dependents, information technology, and defense economics. Consistent with its advisory role, the office has no decision authority or line responsibility and has no vested interest in any sector of the defense budget.

The new guy will be one of the most religious Taliban-madras followers of the F-35 religion.

From Politico:

SCHMIDLE NOMINATED FOR CAPE: The president is nominating Marine Lt. Gen. Robert Schmidle as the new deputy director of the Pentagon's office of Cost Assessment and Program Evaluation. Schmidle, now deputy commandant for Marine aviation, will replace Army Lt. Gen. Robert Lennox at CAPE.

The CAPE office provides the authoritative cost estimates for all DoD programs, making it a very powerful, if not always a beloved organization within the Pentagon.

One of the rules of conflict of interest (specified right in the training) is that an appearance of conflict of interest  is bad.

Government fail.

Here is one of Gollum's quotes about his precious:

“The F-35 is the best hedge against the ever-evolving and unknown threats posed by potential adversaries,”