Page:The Air Force Role In Developing International Outer Space Law (Terrill, 1999).djvu/84

 Gen Curtis E. LeMay, chief of staff of the Air Force, and General Kuhfeld, reviewing documents relating to the Air Force position on outer space law.

The informal working group was created in 1962. While JAG and plans and programs participated and communicated well, other parts of the Air Staff did not. This lack of communication was noted by Col John J. Latella, chief, Intemational Affairs Division, JAG, in an undated memorandum to General Kuhfeld. Colonel Latella opined that the informal structure simply was not working and that a more formal structure was needed to be effective. In response to Latella's complaints and parroting his arguments, Kuhfeld asked Childre in May to reconsider his initial opposition. General Kuhfeld requested that General Childre concur in the establishment of a permanent working group to be chaired by a member of the latter's office. To support his position, Kuhfeld asserted that the Air Force was "continuing to operate...on the same 'catch-as-catch-can' basis as" it had previously. He further argued that "the technical, operational and legal aspects of the Air Force role in outer space have not yet been precisely defined, however, and we are still a long way from a firm statement of policies and procedures." Accordingly, he noted that the standard, routine Air Staff coordination system was inappropriate for handling these issues. Finally, he wrote, "the fast pace