Senator Warren Demands Stronger Ethics Pledge from Raytheon Nominee for Space Acquisition Role
Senator Elizabeth Warren is pressing Erich Hernandez-Baquero, a Raytheon executive nominated to be Air Force assistant secretary for space acquisition and integration, to sign an enhanced ethics pledge. Warren cites conflicts of interest due to his five years at Raytheon and the broader “revolving door” between the Pentagon and defense contractors. She requests a four-year recusal from Raytheon matters and a four-year ban on seeking compensation from defense firms after leaving government. Hernandez-Baquero has signed a standard ethics agreement but faces pressure for stronger commitments.
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Space Force Acquisition Nominee Faces Ethics Scrutiny Over Defense Industry Ties
Senator Elizabeth Warren is pressing Erich Hernandez-Baquero, a former Raytheon executive nominated to be Air Force assistant secretary for space acquisition and integration, to commit to stronger ethics restrictions. Warren's letter requests a four-year recusal from matters involving his former employer, Raytheon, and a four-year ban on seeking compensation from defense firms after leaving the role. Hernandez-Baquero, a 27-year Air Force veteran who joined Raytheon in 2021, has already signed an initial ethics agreement to forfeit unvested stock upon confirmation. The senator's push is part of a broader campaign against the 'revolving door' between the Pentagon and defense contractors, citing a 2023 report that found roughly 700 former officials hired by top defense firms. Current federal laws impose a one-year cooling-off period, which Warren argues is insufficient to prevent conflicts of interest.
Government Executive - All ContentSpace Force Acquisition Nominee Faces Ethics Scrutiny Over Defense Industry Ties
Senator Elizabeth Warren has requested that Erich Hernandez-Baquero, a former Raytheon executive nominated to serve as Air Force assistant secretary for space acquisition and integration, commit to a broad ethics pledge to mitigate conflicts of interest. Warren's letter, sent on June 24, 2026, asks him to recuse himself from matters involving his former employer for four years and not to seek compensation from any DoD-tied firm for four years after leaving the role. Hernandez-Baquero, a 27-year Air Force veteran, joined Raytheon in 2021. He previously signed an ethics agreement to forfeit unvested stock units upon confirmation. Warren's actions are part of her ongoing campaign against the revolving door between the Pentagon and defense contractors, referencing a 2023 report listing hundreds of former officials hired by top contractors. The nominee could not be reached for comment; Raytheon did not respond.
Government Executive - All ContentSen. Warren seeks ethics pledge from Raytheon exec nominated to top space acquisition job
U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren has sent a letter to Erich Hernandez-Baquero, a Raytheon vice president nominated for the role of Air Force assistant secretary for space acquisition and integration, urging him to sign a strict ethics pledge. Warren's letter raises impartiality concerns due to his five-year tenure as a senior defense executive. She asks him to recuse himself from matters involving Raytheon for four years after confirmation and to avoid seeking compensation from defense-related firms for the same period post-departure. Hernandez-Baquero previously signed a standard ethics agreement forfeiting unvested stock. Warren's action is part of her ongoing campaign against the government-defense revolving door, citing a 2023 report listing 700 former officials hired by top defense contractors.
Defense One - All ContentSen. Warren Seeks Ethics Pledge from Raytheon Nominee for Top Space Acquisition Role
Senator Elizabeth Warren has sent a letter to Erich Hernandez-Baquero, a Raytheon executive nominated to become the Air Force's assistant secretary for space acquisition and integration, urging him to sign an enhanced ethics pledge. Warren cites concerns that his five-year tenure as a senior Raytheon executive could create conflicts of interest if confirmed. She asks him to recuse himself from matters involving Raytheon for four years and to avoid seeking compensation from firms he engages with during his government service for the same period. The letter is part of Warren's broader campaign against the 'revolving door' between the Pentagon and defense contractors. Hernandez-Baquero had already signed a standard ethics agreement forfeiting unvested stock upon confirmation, but Warren wants stronger commitments. The nominee served 27 years in the Air Force before joining Raytheon in 2021.
Defense One - All ContentSenator Warren Demands Ethics Pledge from Raytheon Executive Nominated for Top Space Acquisition Role
Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) has sent a letter to Raytheon executive Erich Hernandez-Baquero, the White House nominee for Air Force assistant secretary for space acquisition and integration, urging him to commit to a strong ethics pledge to mitigate conflicts of interest. Warren, citing his five years as a senior Raytheon executive and the broader 'revolving door' between the Pentagon and defense contractors, requested he recuse himself from matters involving his former employer for four years and avoid seeking compensation from Defense Department-linked firms for four years after leaving the role. The letter is part of Warren's ongoing campaign against such conflicts, referencing a 2023 report documenting 700 former officials hired by top defense contractors. Hernandez-Baquero, who left the Air Force in 2021 to join Raytheon, has signed an initial agreement to forfeit unvested stock if confirmed, but Warren seeks broader commitments.
Defense One - All Content