Fiscal Challenges Within Defense Acquisitions: A Marine Corps Project Officer's View
Abstract
Decades of inefficiencies have plagued the Department of Defense (DoD) acquisition system because its organizations continue to suffer from fiscal irresponsibility. Regardless of the intensity of congressional oversight or the number of DoD policies and regulations, the cycle of programmatic mismanagement continues while the taxpayer and warfighter feel the pain. The fiscal challenges inherent to the acquisitions system are difficult to solve and layered with complexities. Congressional budgetary For the sake of the user, practical decision making must trump a misplaced loyalty to frugality. In its present form, the contracting process is hamstrung by factors that affect a Program Management Office s (PMO s) ability to deliver a material solution while staying within cost, performance, and schedule constraints. All the issues with the defense acquisitions system are not necessarily under the control of any particular organization. However, it is incumbent on acquisitions professionals to judiciously address most of these challenges with strong leadership and accountability. issues, a culture fraught with risk aversion, an obsession with obligations and expenditure benchmarks, manpower shortages, a lack of communication, and fundamental differences of what is in the best interest of the taxpayer collectively have a significant impact on the efficiency of the process. The success of the defense acquisition system is predicated on a solid foundation of fiscal responsibility, and any cure for inefficiency and mismanagement will only take effect when the DoD workforce is allowed to operate in an environment that fosters judiciousness and budgetary discipline.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Oct 01, 2013
- Accession Number
- ADA608769
Entities
People
- Romeo P. Cubas
Organizations
- Defense Acquisition University