18 November 1999 Willie B. Nance, Jr. Major General, USA NMD Program Manager DoD, Ballistic Missile Defense Organization National Missile Defense Joint Program Office Suite 809, 1725 Jefferson Davis Hwy. Arlington, VA 22202-4102 Dr. John Peller Vice President & Program Manager National Missile Defense Lead System Integrator The Boeing Company 3370 Miraloma Avenue Mail Stop GA-59 Anaheim, CA 92803-3105 Dear Dr. Peller, I am writing to commend Mr. Walter Seiberling for his significant contributions as a member of the National Missile Defense Focus Team from October 22, 1999 to November 19, 1999. Formed as a result of a directive by the Deputy Secretary of Defense, the Focus Team was a special task force whose charter was to rebalance the National Missile Defense program in terms of cost, schedule, and content through the Future Years Defense Program. Mr. Seiberling was one of the technical and programmatic experts who identified cost options for the National Missile Defense program and examined the potential technical and schedule impacts of those optioins. In an intensive effort that included many late night and weekend working sessions, the team identified more than $1.4 billion savings to the Key Performance Parameters over a 5-year period. The team also identified savings of over $400 million for the program's long haul communications and identified critical costs associated with recommendations resulting from the National Missile Defense Review led by General (Retired) Larry Welch. The Focus Team's options and recommendations have been briefed at the highest levels of the Department of Defense. Mr. Seiberling's expertise and leadership were essential to the success of this crucial time-sensitive analysis. His work on this special team will positively impact the National Missile Defense program for years to come. National Missile Defense: Forging America's Shield Sincerely, Willie B. Nance, Jr. Major General, USA NMD Program Manager