Jobs like these are VERY high-pressure jobs with officers put in the position of making decisions independently they would never make otherwise without consulting with superior officers first.
Unfortunately for everyone this creates a sink or swim situation,and not everyone can handle that type of pressure. This seems to be ESPECIALLY true of General officers with dreams of obtaining more stars.
If you want programs like this ran efficiently,you find a career full-bird Colonel that didn't graduate from one of the trade schools and KNOWS he is never going to get a star. Then you put him in charge and give him the authority to tell pretty much anyone that interferes and tries to order him to alter plans to go piss up a rope. None of the Generals will like him,and he won't give a damn.