Defense Acquisition: Observations Two Years After the Packard Commission
Abstract
The 1986 Packard Commission report recommended changes in the defense acquisition process to reduce development times and costs and to produce weapons better suited to war fighters' needs. These recommendations included restructuring the acquisition organization, improving the work force, overhauling the acquisition decision-making process, and reforming regulations. The Office of the Under Secretary for Acquisition requested this study to help inform the next administration about the current status of acquisition reform: What has been tried, what is working and what isn't. It asked IDA to review developments within the Department in the last two years, and to solicit the views of officials responsible for making the acquisition process work. It directed IDA to provide a progress report on acquisition reform, to make observations on the current status of the acquisition process, and to recommend priorities for further actions. This report summarizes IDA's findings and recommendations. It describes Presidential Directives and legislation resulting from the Packard Commission, and subsequent activity within the department. IDA's findings are based in part on a review of recent legislation, directives and other documents. In addition, IDA conducted interviews with more than 100 individuals during the Summer and Fall of 1988. The interviewees include officials in the Under Secretary's organization and other OSD components of former DoD personnel, academic experts, and officials outside of DoD.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Nov 01, 1988
- Accession Number
- ADA205728
Entities
People
- Barbara A. Bicksler
- David R. Graham
- Herschel Kanter
- Marshall Hoyler
- Robert P. Hilton
Organizations
- Institute for Defense Analyses