DOD 4th Estate: Improvements and Efficiencies for the Services
Abstract
This paper recommends how Defense Agencies and Field Activities (DAFA) should consolidate efforts and reconfigure itself to better align its own missions with those of its customers and save the DOD money to spend on other projects. The DOD should also look to cut the DAFA budgets from a bottom-up approach and not a percentage slice across the top of all agencies. DAFA could implement eight measures to improve efficiencies, with or without budget cuts: Agency - Facilities Mergers and Formations, Agency and Facilities Closures, Agency Mission Expansions, Service Expansions, Service Privatization, Service Enhancements, IT Enhancements, Contingency Response Force. The effects of the COVID-19 pandemic have also caused exploration of how the federal government must rethink the work environment. The DOD must invest more resources in information technology and allow commands the flexibility to accomplish their missions, as disruptive events will continue to occur in the future. Integrated DOD systems and in-house resourcing will be key to creating a new environment that provides for pandemic precautions and yet is nimble enough to continue the mission. Our research supports the idea that the mission can now sometimes be accomplished by means other than travel. The data shows that the DOD could reduce its physical footprint by moving toward needs-based congregation, personnel, and facility sharing.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jun 01, 2021
- Accession Number
- AD1151068
Entities
People
- Damon L. Mccoy
- John S. Carhart
- Leanne S. Holmes
Organizations
- Naval Postgraduate School