Dynamic, Avenge, L3, and another one that flies O-2s. I'm not exactly sure what one he worked for, but I know he was paid very well for his services. But I do not agree that there is no difference between them and all our ISR assets.
Show me where American companies are using civilians to fly fighters/bombers, so I can go apply. I would make a shit ton more $$$$ than I do in the military. Then I could keep buying guns to replace the ones I keep losing in the lake.
It's not uncommon to have civilian test pilots, and/or civilians to be in charge of a major program. This is especially true in AFMC.
Oh they will apply, because they will be paid generously (see civilian contractors I mentioned above...minus the O-2 company). Or they could contract out a lot of lift, as we do now, to Atlas/Omni/Evergreen/etc.
Yup, stil a military person on title 10 pulling the trigger.