Sustainment cost estimating update
The increased capability and complexity of weapon systems has been accompanied by a decline in reliability and availability and a corresponding increase in O&S [Operating […]
Month: February 2019
Mark Mandeles on organizing for technology growth
The second half of my conversation with Mark Mandeles has been released on all major podcast apps. In this episode Mark and I talk about […]
In memory of Ernest Fitzgerald
Ernie Fitzgerald, described in the pages of the Washington Post as “America’s best-known whistle blower,” was also “the most hated person in the Air Force,” according to Verne Orr, secretary of […]
What causes of corporate welfare in the defense industry?
In a previous post, I discussed how it is critical to separate the idea of corporate welfare from efficient organizational design. In this post, I […]
Sunday Links
“despite significant efforts to improve P-8A intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) sensors, overall P-8A ISR mission capabilities remain limited by sensor performance shortfalls.” And the P-8A […]
The myth of PERT: all the decisions have been made
Mr. Holifield…. If we can find some way of doing the preliminary work and clarifying the type of project that you are going to want… […]
DOD spent $413 million on the FY2018 audit
The DoD’s discretionary spending is almost half of the total U.S. Government’s discretionary funding. In addition, the DoD owns the majority of the U.S Government’s […]
Update on size of Chinese military spending
Whenever I or someone else suggest that we need higher defense spending, there is an incredulous response from critics: US military spending equals the outlays […]
Are certified managers associated with worse project outcomes?
The demand for professionally certified project managers has grown significantly since the mid-1980s and organizational policymakers today associate certification with project manager competence. Despite its […]
Mark Mandeles on system design principles
In this episode of Acquisition Talk, I speak with Mark Mandeles about a wide range of topics in defense management. Mark has had a fascinating career […]
AAF budget execution during WWII
The disparity between the two columns in Table 15 requires explanation. Funds appropriated in one year may be spent in that year, in subsequent years, […]
Sunday Links
Students Design $1.25 Piece to Help Prevent B-2 Stealth Bomber Emergencies. Top response to the article: “Dumb students… they could have charged at least twice […]
Intangible asset valuation sounds like weapons choice
Valuation of intellectual property (hereafter the broader term, intangible assets) is one of the most important and vexed issues in finance, investment and commercialisation today. […]
Did the JLTV do sufficient Operational Evaluation?
Soldiers with the 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division at Fort Stewart in Georgia received the first of its 500 JLTVs on Jan. 14. A […]