Pentagon’s Top Tester to Abstain From Assessing Lockheed Weapons

The Pentagon’s top weapons tester recused himself from from decisions or program evaluations involving No. 1 defense contractor Lockheed Martin Corp., in a case that may only add to scrutiny of the revolving door between the military and its suppliers.

Douglas Schmidt was sworn in April 8 as director of Operational Test and Evaluation, the office that provides often tough appraisals of weapons including Lockheed’s F-35, the Defense Department’s costliest system. Those evaluations of whether multibillion-dollar programs will be effective in combat — and how costly they will be to maintain — often affect the amount and timing of funding.