Transformation and Defense Acquisition: It Can Work

Abstract

Transformation of the Joint Force has been a focus of effort throughout the Services and Department of Defense Agencies for the past decade. An evaluation of the successes achieved through Department of Defense transformation efforts indicates where we must apply future focus to ensure the United States can remain the single most versatile, agile, and lethal fighting force in the world. The current Planning, Programming, and Budgeting System (PPBS) provides a necessary framework for responsible acquisition with fair competitiveness to industry and proper spending of National resources. But the structured nature and Service competitiveness of the PPBS can lead to difficulties in inserting technologies or capabilities which show merit and in some cases threaten legacy programs of record. The relatively inflexible nature of the two year PPBS cycle with respect to rapid transformation can be a barrier to successful transition of concepts to fielded capabilities. Despite successful experimentation and in some cases, use by fielded forces during experimental development, lack of a sufficient transition planning with appropriate funding for a new start capability may result in its untimely termination.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Apr 04, 2008
Accession Number
ADA487119

Entities

People

  • Mark A. Werth

Organizations

  • National Defense University

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • C4I
  • Counter WMD
  • Electronic Warfare
  • Engineered Resilient Systems
  • Human Systems
  • Space

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Acquisition
  • Air Force
  • Combatant Commanders
  • Command And Control
  • Command And Control Systems
  • Computer Programming
  • Department Of Defense
  • Information Systems
  • Interagency Coordination
  • Lessons Learned
  • Military Acquisition
  • Military Organizations
  • National Security
  • Tactical Data Systems
  • Test And Evaluation
  • Unified Combatant Commands
  • Warfare

Readers

  • Defense Acquisition Program Management
  • Systems Analysis and Design