Flying Blind: The Value of Organic Personnel Research in the United States Air Force

Abstract

Since 1947 the USAF has benefited greatly through the use of personnel research. These programs have provided senior leaders the scientific support necessary to base strategic force management decisions and have enabled the force to evolve in step with the service's growing mission. Many of these benefits have been a direct result of maintaining an organic capability that is steeped in experience and ready to respond to mission requirements or unforeseen directives. However, after the closure of the Air Force Research Laboratory's Mission Critical Skills Division in 1999, the Air Force has relied solely on contractor support to meet its personnel research needs. This construct poses distinct challenges for the Air Force in three ways: 1) Lack of central oversight increases the potential for redundant research and the format does not lend itself well to longitudinal studies. 2) Synergy and corporate memory have been lost. 3) The process for funding and completing such contracts is slow and unable to respond to the AF's immediate needs. The AF must revitalize its personnel research program to remain relevant ane-successful.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Apr 06, 2010
Accession Number
ADA603362

Entities

People

  • Christopher M. Busque

Organizations

  • Marine Corps University

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Human Systems

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Air Force
  • Air Force Personnel
  • Air Force Research Laboratories
  • Aircrafts
  • Behavioral Sciences
  • Business Administration
  • Contractors
  • Contracts
  • Department Of Defense
  • Employment
  • Enlisted Personnel
  • Human Resources
  • Management Personnel
  • Manpower Utilization
  • Military Research
  • Personnel Management
  • United States

Readers

  • Aerospace Research.
  • Defense Acquisition Program Management
  • Systems Analysis and Design