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Paul Kaminski

Paul Kaminski was Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology and Logistics in the US Department of Defense, a position he left, along with government service, in December 1997.

US Department of Defense · Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology and Logistics · 1997-12

Paul Kaminski served as Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology and Logistics (USDAT) in the US Department of Defense. According to testimony from Thomas Wilson, Wilson spoke with both Kaminski and Brigadier General Michael Kostelnik in the course of an internal enquiry.1 Kaminski left this position, and government service altogether, in December 1997.2

According to the book In Plain Sight (2021), a memo attributed to Wilson identifies Kaminski as Director of Special Programs within the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology and Logistics (OUSDAT). The same memo names him as one of three people Wilson consulted to confirm the identity of a programme’s contractor, alongside Kostelnik, described there as Director of the Special Access Programs Coordination Office and executive secretary for the Special Access Program Oversight Committee, and former Defense Secretary William Perry.3

Wilson’s own testimony describes making a series of calls at the end of May 1997 to verify he had identified the correct contractor and programme manager to approach. He stated that he called Kaminski, Kostelnik and Perry first, and that all three confirmed his information was correct.4 When Wilson subsequently reached the programme manager in question, the manager asked him who he had spoken to beforehand and was unhappy with the answer Wilson gave; Wilson’s testimony states that he did not disclose to the programme manager that he had already spoken with Perry and Kaminski.5

The record known as The Admiral Wilson Memo is the source for the account of Kaminski’s title and his role in Wilson’s 1997 enquiries described above.

  1. Kaminski was the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology and Logistics, and Thomas Wilson spoke to both Kaminski and Michael Kostelnik.
    “TW: Uh, was Paul Kaminski - talked to both Paul and Mike Kostelnik (a Brig. General)”
    EWD Notes - Eric Davis Meeting with Adm. Wilson char:11976-12048
  2. Kaminski left his position as Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology and Logistics, and left government service, in December 1997.
    “In Dec. '97 Paul was out as USDAT, left gov't”
    EWD Notes - Eric Davis Meeting with Adm. Wilson char:22867-22911
  3. The memo names Kaminski, Director of Special Programs in OUSDAT, as one of three people Wilson confirmed the programme's contractor with, alongside Kostelnik and William Perry.
    “Dr Paul Kaminski (Director of Special Programs in the office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology and Logistics); Brigadier General Mike Kostelnik (Director of the Special Access Programs Coordination Office and executive secretary for the SAP Oversight Committee); and former Defence Secretary Bill Perry.”
    In Plain Sight ch26:15339-15691 View the source record →
  4. In late May 1997, Wilson called Kaminski, Kostelnik and Perry to confirm he had the right contractor and programme manager, and they confirmed it.
    “TW: I made several calls (end of May '97), first to Paul, Mike & Perry to confirm I had right contractor and program manager to talk to. EWD: They confirm? TW: Yes.”
    EWD Notes - Eric Davis Meeting with Adm. Wilson char:14381-14539
  5. The programme manager was unhappy with Wilson's account of who he had spoken to, though Wilson withheld that he had talked to Perry and Kaminski.
    “TW: Yes! Asked who I talked to before I called them so I told them and they weren't happy with that answer. ... TW: Oh, no! I didn't tell them I talked to those guys!”
    EWD Notes - Eric Davis Meeting with Adm. Wilson char:15351-15545

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