One of New Jersey’s leading progressive activists is questioning the influence of foreign-owned corporations over US military personnel after the rollout of the new Electronic Weighted Airman Promotion System.
Lisa McCormick issued a strong condemnation of the U.S. Air Force’s recent decision to place its personnel system under the control of Pearson VUE, a foreign-owned corporation.
The eWAPS platform is a collaborative effort between the Air Force, the Personnel Data Research Institute and PearsonVUE. Airmen participating in the 2024 technical sergeant and staff sergeant promotion cycles will be the first to use this system.
Pearson VUE is an international testing company that is owned by Pearson plc, a British multinational corporation headquartered in London. Omid Kordestani, a billionaire who was born in Iran, became the firm’s chairman of the board in March 2022. Pearson announced in September 2023, the appointment of Omar Abbosh as CEO.
The move to e-testing, announced on January 30, 2024, has raised concerns about the security, transparency, and potential implications for the nation’s defense.
On February 1, Michael Li, a staff sergeant with the 341st Medical Group medical technician, was the USAF’s first to utilize the electronic testing method at Malmstrom Air Force Base, Montana.
“This initiative, along with others such as the myFSS applications, is just one of many human resources transformation efforts,” said Lt. Gen. Caroline Miller, deputy chief of staff for Manpower, Personnel, and Services. “Transforming HR Information Technology is one of my five priorities and underpins the entire HR enterprise.”
McCormick, who was a Democratic 2018 candidate for the US Senate in New Jersey, expressed her dismay at the decision, emphasizing the critical nature of the U.S. Air Force’s personnel system in ensuring the readiness and effectiveness of the military.
“The decision to hand over control of the personnel system, a vital component of our national defense infrastructure, to a foreign-owned corporation is deeply troubling,” said Lisa McCormick. “We must prioritize the security and sovereignty of our military, and outsourcing such a critical function to a foreign entity raises serious questions about the protection of sensitive information and the integrity of our defense operations.”
The activist raised concerns about potential risks associated with foreign influence and control over essential military functions. McCormick urged the U.S. Air Force to reconsider its decision and prioritize domestic solutions to maintain control over critical systems.
“As a nation, we should be extremely cautious about allowing foreign entities to control integral components of our military apparatus. The potential risks and vulnerabilities associated with such a decision cannot be understated,” McCormick said. “With the failure to regulate artificial intelligence and the complexity of computerized systems, it might be possible to permit unfriendly influence over personnel decisions in our military or for spies to abscond with confidential information.”
She called on Congress to investigate the decision-making process that led to this outsourcing arrangement, demanding transparency and accountability in matters that directly impact the nation’s security.
McCormick said, “Our military personnel and the American people deserve answers. I implore our elected officials to thoroughly scrutinize this decision and take the necessary steps to protect the interests of the United States and its citizens.”
Lisa McCormick’s criticism comes amidst a broader conversation about the security and sovereignty implications of outsourcing critical infrastructure functions to foreign entities, particularly in the context of national defense.