An Argument for a Single Test and Evaluation Command.

Abstract

Evaluations of development and operational tests are used to assess the progress of new systems as they proceed through development. Because many Army organizations contribute to the preparation of these evaluations, the results reaching acquisition officials at critical decision points are often fragmented. Seldom do these evaluations adequately interpret the test findings in terms of potential operational consequences. Test and evaluation organizations, while not having direct control of systems under development, are nevertheless in a position to influence their fate. There often appears to be little communication or coordination among test and evaluation agencies. Consequently, their evaluations often lack the impact that a coherent, comprehensive evaluation might have on the decision process. Currently, there is no single agency/command with the responsibility to coordinate the evaluations of the different organizations. This paper suggests that the Army create a Test and Evaluation Command and assign it overall responsibility for all Army operational test and evaluation matters, less those independent evaluator functions assigned to the Operational Test and Evaluation Agency (OTEA).

Open PDF

Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Mar 20, 1987
Accession Number
ADA180211

Entities

People

  • Taylor L. Conley

Organizations

  • United States Army War College

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Human Systems
  • Materials and Manufacturing Processes
  • Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Acquisition
  • Air Defense
  • Biotechnology
  • Command And Control
  • Command And Control Systems
  • Contractors
  • Contracts
  • Control Systems
  • Employment
  • Engineering
  • Personnel Management
  • Procurement
  • Students
  • Test And Evaluation
  • Test Beds
  • War Colleges
  • Warfare

Readers

  • Defense Acquisition Program Management
  • Instructional Design and Training Evaluation.
  • Strategic Security Studies