better than one has a right to expect. One of the BIG flaws that could be easily corrected is to select appointees to DoD and the service Secretariats on experience and merit as opposed to political ideological compliance. There probably ought to be more senior civil service and fewer appointed positions as well.

That applies to other areas of government as well (look what the syndrome did in the CPA in Iraq... ) but IMO it is particularly critical at DoD due to the 'get somebody killed' factor...