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NOMINATION REFERENCE

AS IN EXECUTIVE SESSION,
SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES,
February 3, 1987.

Ordered, that the following nomination be referred to the Committee on Armed Services:

Robert B. Costello, of Michigan, to be an Assistant Secretary of Defense, vice James Paul Wade, Jr.

[The biographical sketch of Dr. Costello, which was transmitted to the committee at the time the nomination was referred, follows:]

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH OF DR. ROBERT B. COSTELLO

Dr. Robert B. Costello was nominated to be the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Logistics by President Reagan on October 2, 1986. His confirmation hearing is pending. In the interim, he will work as a consultant to Richard P. Godwin, Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition.

Prior to his appointment, Dr. Costello was Executive Director, Purchasing Activities for the General Motors Corporation. He was responsible for providing new direction and implementing a broad range of new programs throughout General Motors and its suppliers worldwide for all goods and services, with annual purchases exceeding $50 billion. For the past two years, he had also been chairman of the General Motors Corporate Ethics Committee formed to establish a new comprehensive policy for all employees related to their dealing with people and organizations outside of General Motors.

Dr. Costello was born in New Rochelle, New York, on June 21, 1926. He attended Yale University, has Bachelor of Civil Engineering and Master of Civil Engineering degrees from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and a Doctor of Philosophy in Civil Engineering degree from Cornell University (1951).

He enlisted in the U.S. Naval Reserve in June 1944. He continued his reserve association through 1978 on active duty as an officer in the Civil Engineering Corps during the Korean war along with a variety of reserve assignments. He retired in 1978 with the rank of captain.

Prior to joining General Motors in 1960, Dr. Costello held a number of positions in Advanced Research and Management specializing in Material Science and Aerospace and Missile Test and Engineering.

In 1960, Dr. Costello joined the Allison Division of General Motors as Chief of Missile Engineering. Subsequent assignments were in the Defense Research Laboratories in Santa Barbara, California in Deep Ocean Engineering and acoustic research. He holds a number of patents in deep ocean materials, systems, and instrumentation. He was reassigned to the Allison Division as Director, Liaison for the Main Battle Tank Program in charge of international aspects of the joint U.S/Germany project.

In 1968, Dr. Costello was assigned to the Delco Electronics Division and assumed responsibility for purchasing, production control and logistics in 1970. During this assignment, he directed a worldwide purchasing network and implemented unique new quality programs for a wide range of electronic components.

Dr. Costello has been responsible for a broad range of engineering and development activities along with divisional and corporate programs in Data Processing, strategic planning, international procurement and engineering.

Dr. Costello has been living in Detroit for the past four years and been active in the Recess Club, The Detroit Association of Purchasing Management, and the National Association of Purchasing Management. He and his wife, Marcia, have five children and four grandchildren.

[The Committee on Armed Services requires all individuals nominated from civilian life by the President to positions requiring the advice and consent of the Senate, and certain senior military officers as determined by the committee, to complete a form that details the biographical, financial and other information of the nominee. The form executed by Dr. Costello in connection with his nomination follows:]

UNITED STATES SENATE

COMMITTEE ON ARMED SERVICES

Room SR-222

Washington, DC 20510-6050

(202) 224-3871

COMMITTEE ON ARMED SERVICES FORM

BIOGRAPHICAL AND FINANCIAL INFORMATION REQUESTED OF

NOMINEES

INSTRUCTIONS TO THE NOMINEE: Complete all requested information. If more space is needed, use an additional sheet and cite the part of the form and the question number (i.e. A-9, B-4) to which the continuation of your answer applies.

PART A-BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION

Instructions to the Nominee: Biographical information furnished in this part of the form will be made available in Committee offices for public inspection prior to the hearing and will also be published in any hearing record as well as made available to the public.

1. NAME: (Include any former names used.)

Robert Bassett Costello (Nickname: Bob).

2. Position to which nominated:

Assistant Secretary of Defense (Acquisition and Logistics).

3. Date of nomination:

February 3, 1987.

4. Address: (List current place of residence and office address.)

[Nominee responded and the information is contained in the committee's executive files.]

5. Date and place of birth:

June 21, 1926; New Rochelle, Westchester County, New York.

6. Marital Status: (Include maiden name of wife or husband's name.) Married to the former Marcia Marlene Kuntz.

7. Names and ages of children:

Robert Bassett Costello (deceased-DOB: November 14, 1951); Joseph Ball Costello-age: 33; Timothy Andrew Costello-age: 27.

8. Education: List secondary and higher education institutions, dates attended, degree received and date degree granted.

Yale University, 1943-1944.

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, 1945-1948, BCE/MCE.

Purdue University, 1948-1949.

Cornell University, 1949-1951, Ph.D. Civil Engineering.

9. Employment record: List all jobs held since college or in the last 10 years, whichever is less, including the title or description of job, name of employer, location of work, and dates of employment.

Executive Director, Purchasing, General Motors, 3044 W. Grand Blvd., Detroit, MI, September 1982-July 1986.

Director, Material Management, GM Delco Electronics, 700 E. Firmin St., Kokomo, IN, 1967-1982.

10. Government experience: List any advisory, consultative, honorary or other part-time service or positions with Federal, State, or local governments, other than those listed above.

34 years active duty and reserve association in the U.S. Navy Reserve.

11. Business relationships: List all positions currently held as an officer, director, trustee, partner, proprietor, agent, representative, or consultant of any corporation, company, firm, partnership, or other business enterprise, educational or other institution.

None.

12. Memberships: List all memberships and offices currently held in professional, fraternal, scholarly, civic, business, charitable and other organizations.

General Motors Corporation.

National Association Purchasing Management.

Naval Reserve Officer's Association.

Society of the Sigma X.

Reserve Officer's Association.

The Recess Club (Board of Governors).

Oakland County Republican Party.
Michigan Republican Party.

National Republican Party.
Kokomo Country Club.

The Pointe Golf & Tennis Club.
Franklin Community Church.

13. Political affiliations and activities:

(a) List all offices with a political party which you have held or any public office for which you have been a candidate.

Not applicable..

(b) List all memberships and offices held in and services rendered to all political parties or election committees during the last 5 years.

Not applicable.

(c) Itemize all political contributions to any individual, campaign organization, political party, political action committee, or similar entity of $100 or more for the past 5 years.

Contributed to various campaigns—primarily Republican candidates—and members of local county Republican Parties in Michigan and Indiana.

14. Honors and Awards: List all scholarships, fellowships, honorary society memberships, military medals and any other special recognitions for outstanding service or achievements.

Academic honors in the University environment-no other significant, widely recognized honors.

15. Published writings: List the titles, publishers, and dates of books, articles, reports, or other published materials which you have written.

Numerous writings in a number of fields covering oceanography instrumentation, advanced materials systems, deep ocean instrumentation and structure, and a wide number of lectures and presentations on materials management and procurement concepts.

16. Speeches: Provide the Committee with two copies of any formal speeches you have delivered during the last 5 years which you have copies of and are on topics relevant to the position for which you have been nominated.

Numerous speeches in materials management, participated management, materials and quality research.

17. Selection:

(a) Do you know why you were chosen for this nomination by the President?

It is my understanding that the White House undertook a search for the most qualified professional in the procurement field, and I was identified as one of the candidates.

(b) What do you believe in your background or employment experience affirmatively qualifies you for this particular appointment?

I have an unusual background involving military experience. My technical training and experience in advanced research—much of it dealing with military programs and extensive experience in materials management and procurement, particularly in which I was responsible for the military forward industrial procurement activity in the world-General Motors world-wide.

18. Commitment to Testify Before Senate Committees: Do you agree, if confirmed, to respond to requests to appear and testify before any duly constituted committee of the Senate?

Yes.

COMMITTEE ON ARMED SERVICES FORM

FINANCIAL AND OTHER INFORMATION REQUESTED OF NOMINEES INSTRUCTIONS TO THE NOMINEE: Information furnished in Parts B through F will be retained in the Committee's executive files and will not be made available to the public unless specifically directed by the committee.

NAME: Robert Bassett Costello.

PART B-FUTURE EMPLOYMENT RELATIONSHIPS

1. Will you sever all business connections with your present employers, business firms, business associations or business organizations if you are confirmed by the Senate?

[Note: Nominee responded and the information is contained in the committee's executive files.]

2. Do you have any plans, commitments or agreements to pursue outside employment, with or without compensation, during your service with the government? If so, explain.

[Note: Nominee responded and the information is contained in the committee's executive files.]

3. Do you have any plans, commitments or agreements after completing government service to resume employment, affiliation or practice with your previous employer, business firm, association or organization?

[Note: Nominee responded and the information is contained in the committee's executive files.]

4. Has anybody made a commitment to employ your services in any capacity after you leave government service?

[Note: Nominee responded and the information is contained in the committee's executive files.]

5. Is your spouse employed and, if so, where?

[Note: Nominee responded and the information is contained in the committee's executive files.]

6. If confirmed, do you expect to serve out your full term or until the Presidential election, whichever is applicable?

[Note: Nominee responded and the information is contained in the committee's executive files.]

PART C-POTENTIAL CONFLICTS OF INTEREST

1. Describe all financial arrangements, deferred compensation agreements, and other continuing dealings with business associates, clients or customers.

[Note: Nominee responded and the information is contained in the committee's executive files.]

2. Indicate any investments, obligations, liabilities, or other relationships which could involve potential conflicts of interest in the position to which you have been nominated.

[Note: Nominee responded and the information is contained in the committee's executive files.]

3. Describe any business relationship, dealing or financial transaction which you have had during the last 10 years, whether for yourself, on behalf of a client, or acting as an agent, that could in any way constitute or result in a possible conflict of interest in the position to which you have been nominated.

[Note: Nominee responded and the information is contained in the committee's executive files.]

4. Describe any activity during the past 10 years in which you have engaged for the purpose of directly or indirectly influencing the passage, defeat or modification of any legislation or affecting the administration and execution of law or public policy.

[Note: Nominee responded and the information is contained in the committee's executive files.]

5. Explain how you will resolve any potential conflict of interest, including any that may be disclosed by your responses to the above items. (Please provide a copy of any trust or other agreements.)

[Note: Nominee responded and the information is contained in the committee's executive files.]

6. Do you agree to provide to the committee any written opinions provided by the General Counsel of the agency to which you are nominated and by the Attorney General's office concerning potential conflicts of interest or any legal impediments to your serving in this position?

[Note: Nominee responded and the information is contained in the committee's executive files.]

PART D-LEGAL MATTERS

1. Have you ever been disciplined or cited for a breach of ethics for unprofessional conduct by, or been the subject of a complaint to any court, adminsitrative agency, professional association, disciplinary committee, or other professional group? If so, provide details.

[Note: Nominee responded and the information is contained in the committee's executive files.]

2. Have you ever been investigated, arrested, charged or held by any Federal, State, or other law enforcement authority for violation of any Federal, State, county or municipal law, regulation or ordinance, other than a minor traffic offense? If so, provide details.

[Note: Nominee responded and the information is contained in the committee's executive files.]

3. Have you or any business of which you are or were an officer ever been involved as a party in interest in any administrative agency proceeding or civil litigation? If so, provide details.

[Note: Nominee responded and the information is contained in the committee's executive files.]

4. Have you ever been convicted (including a plea of guilty of nolo contendere) of any criminal violation other than a minor traffic offense?

[Note: Nominee responded and the information is contained in the committee's executive files.]

5. Please advise the committee of any additional information, favorable or unfavorable, which you feel should be considered in connection with your nomination. [Note: Nominee responded and the information is contained in the committee's executive files.]

PART E-FOREIGN AFFILIATIONS

1. Have you or your spouse ever represented in any capacity (e.g., employee, attorney, business, or political adviser or consultant), with or without compensation, a foreign government or an entity controlled by a foreign government? If so, please fully describe such relationship.

[Note: Nominee responded and the information is contained in the committee's executive files.]

2. If you or your spouse has ever been formally associated with a law, accounting, public relations firm or other service organization, have any of you or your spouse's associates represented, in any capacity, with or without compensation, a foreign government or an entity controlled by a foreign government? If so, please fully describe such relationship.

[Note: Nominee responded and the information is contained in the committee's executive files.]

3. During the past ten years have you or your spouse received any compensation from, or been involved in any financial or business transactions with, a foreign government or an entity controlled by a foreign government? If so, please furnish details.

[Note: Nominee responded and the information is contained in the committee's executive files.]

4. Have you or your spouse ever registered under the Foreign Agents Registration Act? If so, please furnish details.

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