Secretary of Defense Robert Gates spoke to Peterson Air Force officials Tuesday morning about his recent decisions to shake up two top ranking officials in the Air Force.

He has been touring Air Force bases around the country to explain the forced resignations of Air Force Chief of Staff of Michael Mosely and the Secretary of the Air Force, Michael Winn.

Gates pointed to a lack of authority responsible for the Air Force nuclear program and the deterioration of expertise in this field. He also brought up two separate incidents that had a part in his decision. Last August, armed nuclear weapons were accidentally flown across the country and another instance, where nose cones were accidentally taken to Taiwan instead of helicopter parts.

Gates also took time to back his choices for the replacements, Michael Donley as Secretary of the Air Force and General Norton Schwartz as the next Air Force Chief of staff.