The Government Accountability Office has found that the Defense Department is close to completing the baseline development for the F-35 aircraft program but plans to enter into full-rate production in October 2019 before addressing key deficiencies discovered during testing.

GAO called on Congress to consider withholding appropriations for the Block 4 modernization effort for the Lockheed Martin-built fighter jet until DoD provides a technology evaluation and schedule and cost estimates, according to a report published Tuesday.

The report noted that the Pentagon has requested $278 million in funds to kick off the Block 4 process before it can provide a “sound business case” for that effort.

GAO recommended the DoD secretary should ask the F-35 program office to determine measures that could be taken to ensure that the aircraft meets maintainability and reliability requirements prior to reaching maturity for each variant and address deficiencies before moving to full-rate production.

DoD has asked $9.8 billion in fiscal 2019 funds and plans to request an additional annual budget of $10.4 billion for the F-35 program in the next 20 years, according to the report.

Brig. Gen. Alice Trevino, the principal military assistant to the deputy secretary of the Defense Department, assumed command of the U.S. Air Force Installation Contracting Agency at the Wright-Patterson Air Force Base on May 23.

Maj. Gen. Bradley Spacy, Air Force Installation and Mission Support Center commander, presided over the change of command ceremony to officially appoint Trevino and replace Brig. Gen Cameron Holt, who was named deputy assistant secretary for acquisition of the U.S. Air Force, the service branch said Friday.

Trevino was also designated as head of the Joint Theater Support Contracting Command at the time of activation.

Her experience in command roles includes the Defense Contract Management Agency-Western Region, contracting squadrons of base and specialized major command levels and group and wing level join units.

She served as contracting deputy director for the Air Force Life Cycle Management Center in her first tour at Wright-Patterson AFB.

Her military career includes service for major defense acquisition programs as a warranted procuring contracting officer and the U.S. Transportation Command as a joint qualified officer.

She supported operations for combat, humanitarian aid and peacekeeping/enforcement on her deployments to Croatia, Turkey, Oman, Kuwait and to Afghanistan, where she also served as a senior contracting official.

In her new role, Trevino will manage the $9.1 billion annual obligations and direct the strategic sourcing efforts for the mission and enterprise-wide installation of the service branch.

The Aerospace Industries Association has called on the State Department to develop and implement a plan to speed up transactions that aim to help the country meet its security cooperation priorities.

AIA wrote a Tuesday letter to Secretary of State Mike Pompeo saying it made the recommendation in response to a call for feedback on the proposed action plan for the implementation of a presidential memorandum issued in April.

The presidential memo seeks to create a new policy on conventional arms transfers in support of the country’s national security and economic interests.

AIA recommends the establishment of “senior-level oversight mechanisms” to advance accountability for the assessment and approval of defense exports.

The association also offered specific recommendations such as the development of a financing process for defense exports; introduction of contracting reforms to the foreign military sales process; and creation of a program licensing framework to streamline defense trade with allies and partners.

Eric Fanning, AIA president and CEO, signed the letter with Thomas Kennedy, Raytheon chairman and CEO and AIA chairman; and William Brown, Harris chairman, president and CEO and vice chairman of AIA.