Acquisition Reform Why? What? Is It Working?
Abstract
National defense has been and continues to be a major commitment of the United States. However, with the demise of the Soviet Union, came a reevaluation of the military size and capability necessary for the national defense. With the perceived reduced threat came reduced budgets. This resulted in the military having to determine a proper balance between readiness and modernization. To prepare for tomorrow's threat, modernization is essential. However, modernization is also expensive. The acquisition of new weapon systems is time consuming, expensive and often plagued with performance difficulties as technology is pushed to advance weapon capability. Repeated attempts to procure systems faster, better, and cheaper have failed. However, the budget cuts of the 1990s have forced drastic measures. Acquisition reform could more aptly be named acquisition revolution as the measures being taken are truly revolutionary. This paper looks at some of the circumstances and problems that led to the acquisition reform movement. It looks at some of the reform initiatives taken, briefly examines why the changes were significant, and discusses anticipated benefits. Finally, the implementation of acquisition reform initiatives and their effects, as implemented by the Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM) System Program Office, are examined.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Mar 01, 1997
- Accession Number
- ADA398455
Entities
People
- Daniel C. Brink
Organizations
- Air Command and Staff College