Statistics, Testing, and Defense Acquisition

Statistics, Testing, and Defense Acquisition
Author: National Research Council
Publisher: National Academies Press
Total Pages: 240
Release: 1998-05-08
Genre: Technology & Engineering
ISBN: 0309174198

For every weapons system being developed, the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) must make a critical decision: Should the system go forward to full-scale production? The answer to that question may involve not only tens of billions of dollars but also the nation's security and military capabilities. In the milestone process used by DOD to answer the basic acquisition question, one component near the end of the process is operational testing, to determine if a system meets the requirements for effectiveness and suitability in realistic battlefield settings. Problems discovered at this stage can cause significant production delays and can necessitate costly system redesign. This book examines the milestone process, as well as the DOD's entire approach to testing and evaluating defense systems. It brings to the topic of defense acquisition the application of scientific statistical principles and practices.

The Process and Politics of Defense Acquisition

The Process and Politics of Defense Acquisition
Author: David S. Sorenson
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing USA
Total Pages: 229
Release: 2008-12-30
Genre: History
ISBN: 0313348448

The United States government invests billions each year on equipping armed forces with the most advanced military equipment. The root of the American defense acquisition system is driven by a combination of national interests and domestic political requirements. While fundamentally the defense acquisition system has produced results for the United States military, improvements are needed in order to continue to move forward in advancing military tactics and technology. Exploring both the systemic and political levels of the system, Sorenson argues that the United States will fall behind if the current defense acquisition system is not reformed. This book brings together elements of this complicated system, such as national security requirements, and the changes that are needed in both the structural and political pillars. A combination of political interests and the needs of the military, serviced by an ever-shrinking defense industry, make a genuine acquisition reform even more difficult, resulting in reform that is more symbolic than genuine.

U.S. Military Program Management

U.S. Military Program Management
Author: Gregory A. Garrett PMP
Publisher: Berrett-Koehler Publishers
Total Pages: 421
Release: 2006-12-01
Genre: Business & Economics
ISBN: 1567263852

An indispensable resource for all defense industry professionals—governmental and commercial! Introducing the only book on the market offering valuable best practices and lessons learned for U.S. military program management The U.S. Department of Defense and the related defense industry together form the largest and most powerful government and business entity in the world, developing some of the most expensive and complex major systems ever created. U. S. Military Program Management presents a detailed discussion, from a multi-functional view, of the ins and outs of U.S. military program management and offers recommendations for improving practices in the future. More than 15 leading experts present case studies, best practices, and lessons learned from the Army, Navy, and Air Force, from both the government and industry/contractor perspectives. This book addresses the key competencies of effective U.S. military program management in six comprehensive sections: • Requirements management • Program leadership and teamwork • Risk and financial management • Supply chain management and logistics • Contract management and procurement • Special topics

Reinventing Federal Procurement

Reinventing Federal Procurement
Author: National Performance Review (U.S.)
Publisher: Office of Vice President
Total Pages: 128
Release: 1993
Genre: Political Science
ISBN:

At head of cover title: From red tape to results.

Defense Management Reform

Defense Management Reform
Author: Peter Levine
Publisher: Stanford University Press
Total Pages: 353
Release: 2020-03-10
Genre: Political Science
ISBN: 150361185X

Pentagon spending has been the target of decades of criticism and reform efforts. Billions of dollars are spent on weapons programs that are later abandoned. State-of-the-art data centers are underutilized and overstaffed. New business systems are built at great expense but fail to meet the needs of their users. Every Secretary of Defense for the last five Administrations has made it a priority to address perceived bloat and inefficiency by making management reform a major priority. The congressional defense committees have been just as active, enacting hundreds of legislative provisions. Yet few of these initiatives produce significant results, and the Pentagon appears to go on, as wasteful as ever. In this book, Peter Levine addresses why, despite a long history of attempted reform, the Pentagon continues to struggle to reduce waste and inefficiency. The heart of Defense Management Reform is three case studies covering civilian personnel, acquisitions, and financial management. Narrated with the insight of an insider, the result is a clear understanding of what went wrong in the past and a set of concrete guidelines to plot a better future.

Investments in Federal Facilities

Investments in Federal Facilities
Author: National Research Council
Publisher: National Academies Press
Total Pages: 160
Release: 2004-06-24
Genre: Technology & Engineering
ISBN: 0309089190

Facilities now owned by the Federal Government are valued at over $300 billion. It also spends over $25 billion per year for acquisition, renovation, and upkeep. Despite the size of these sums, there is a growing litany of problems with federal facilities that continues to put a drain on the federal budget and compromise the effectiveness of federal services. To examine ways to address these problems, the sponsoring agencies of the Federal Facilities Council (FFC) asked the National Research Council (NRC) to develop guidelines for making improved decisions about investment in and renewal, maintenance, and replacement of federal facilities. This report provides the result of that assessment. It presents a review of both public and private practices used to support such decision making and identifies appropriate objectives, practices, and performance measures. The report presents a series of recommendations designed to assist federal agencies and departments improve management of and investment decision making for their facilities.