He doesn't have to support the policy choices of his predecessors. Actually, the policy that led to those consolidations was ended in 1998: In 1998, DoD un

He doesn't have to support the policy choices of his predecessors. Actually, the policy that led to those consolidations was ended in 1998: In 1998, DoD unexpectedly reversed the pro-consolidation policy and urged the Department of Justice (DOJ) to reject theproposed merger of Lockheed Martin and Northrop and the proposed General Dynamics acquisition of Newport News Shipbuilding. https://www.dau.edu/library/arj/ARJ/arq2001/Deutch.pdf https://www.dau.edu/library/arj/ARJ/arq2001/Deutch.pdf