A Strategic Approach for Space Acquisition

Abstract

The impending federal budget reduction is a watershed event for the Department of Defense (DoD) and presents the DoD with an opportunity to implement a new strategic approach for managing its space acquisition portfolio. The looming funding reduction, in concert with emerging guidance from senior leadership and strong Congressional criticism of space programs, have significantly altered the strategic environment for space acquisition. The DoD must take advantage of this new environment to fundamentally reshape how it acquires space capabilities for the nation. The DoD needs a new strategic approach founded on three lines of effort. The DoD must develop and communicate a prioritized investment plan, change how it manages space program requirements, and pursue new space mission architectures that use small satellites. These recommendations will synchronize efforts across the space acquisition community to make it more efficient and improve program cost and schedule performance. It will make our space mission architectures more resilient to technical problems or adversary action. Finally, this strategic approach will reduce Congressional criticism and increase their support for national security space programs.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Mar 14, 2012
Accession Number
ADA561783

Entities

People

  • Timothy Rade

Organizations

  • United States Army War College

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Space

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Acquisition
  • Air Force
  • Artificial Satellites
  • Environment
  • Federal Budgets
  • Governments
  • Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles
  • Military Science
  • National Security
  • Security
  • Small Satellites
  • Space Missions
  • Space Objects
  • Space Systems
  • Spacecraft
  • Test And Evaluation
  • War Colleges

Readers

  • Aerospace Engineering.
  • Defense Acquisition Program Management
  • Strategic Security Studies

Technology Areas

  • Space