Are we overthinking the DoD’s valley of death problem?
Here’s an interesting exchange from the Feb 9, 2023 House Armed Services Committee hearing on the future of war between Representative Ro Khanna and Christian […]
Politics
Length of DoD continuing resolutions and the inefficiencies created
A continuing resolution (CR) is a temporary spending legislation that allows the Department of Defense to keep funding activities despite starting the new fiscal year […]
NDAA page count has been skyrocketing, hits 4,408 pages in FY23
The National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) is the big national security policy legislation. It is separate from appropriations which provides actual funding to program authorized […]
Rep. Mike Gallagher on multiyear procurement, budget, and oversight
Here’s a slice from a great episode of Hondo Geurts and Lauren Bedula’s Building the Base podcast with Representative Mike Gallagher (R-WI). The Pentagon doesn’t […]
The Ever Shrinking Fighting Force: Excerpts from Punaro’s book
Here are some excerpts from MG Arnold Punaro’s recent book, The Ever Shrinking Fighting Force. It is packed with data on how costs have increased […]
Is French military procurement more efficient because politics stays out?
The Rand Corporation’s Thomas McNaugher, for example, has long rejected the economists’ common assertion that the root of the acquisition problem is found in a […]
Two good points on the state of Defense Innovation Unit
Here’s an article from Bill Greenwalt in Breaking Defense which cuts through the go-along-to-get-along commentary on defense innovation ecosystem. Here’s point number one: Established by […]
Congress pushes back on the critical munitions fund
Here’s former USD Comptroller Dov Zakheim on the status of a critical munitions fund at The Hill: Congress should reconsider Austin’s request to fund ‘critical […]
Has Congress descended from oversight to micromanagement?
Here’s a slice from a conversation between Peter Levine, Bob Work, and Susanna Blume on Peter’s recent book: Defense Management Reform. Bob Work: I do […]
China’s weapons acquisition cycle 5-6x faster than the United States — “We are going to lose” if we don’t change
I would tell you anecdotally that China is still, after gains we’ve made in the last five years or so, about five to six times […]
Does the United States military look like Russia’s?
Here’s the excellent Steve Blank on the War on the Rocks podcast: We’re recording this in the middle of the battle for Ukraine, and I […]
In the Pentagon, money takes so long it’s a death sentence for new tech
Here’s a slice of a panel discussion that includes former HASC Chair Mac Thornberry, former USD Policy Michele Flournoy, and Rep. Elaine Luria: Mac Thornberry: […]
Report on China’s defense S&T key labs
Here’s a nice report from the China Aerospace Studies Institute on China’s Defense S&T Key Labs (DSTKLs). Lots of charts throughout. A fair number of […]
Will the FY23 defense budget get a $100B bump by Congress?
Here’s an interesting conversation about FY23 budget projections on Defense & Aerospace Report podcast. (I’ll forego the indent) Michael Herson: We’ve seen a lot of […]
GAO struggles to define oversight for the Adaptive Acquisition Framework
Here’s the General Accountability Office’s take on Middle Tier of Acquisition (MTA) in space systems from a recent report. Remember, MTA efforts must be rapidly […]