Senate panel to scrutinize Defense acquisition nominee

The Senate Armed Services Committee is expected to consider next Tuesday the nomination of Michael Wynne to become the Pentagon's undersecretary of Defense for acquisition, technology and logistics, a Senate aide said Wednesday.

Wynne, who is currently the Pentagon's acting acquisition chief, has come under scrutiny by Senate Commerce Committee Chairman John McCain, R-Ariz., for his role in the Air Force's negotiation of a multibillion-dollar lease agreement with Boeing for 100 aerial refueling tankers, which has since been modified to 20 of the 767s to be leased and 80 purchased.

McCain, a senior member of the Armed Services Committee, called on Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld in a Sept. 11 letter to hand over any e-mail exchanges and other records related to Wynne's role in winning support from top Defense Department officials for the Boeing lease. Deputy Defense Secretary Paul Wolfowitz rebuffed McCain's request.