Will there be a new and streamlined milestone process?
Not later than February 1, 2020, each Service Acquisition Executive shall recommend to the Secretary of Defense at least one major defense acquisition program for […]
Politics
A cautionary tale of trying to leap-frog at expense of proven tech in war
Here are some excerpts from an excellent sci-fi story by Arthur C. Clarke, Superiority, in which a galactic power engaged with an inferior power ultimately […]
An excellent argument for the Space Force from Steven Kwast
We get trapped. Here in America, three times in the last 100 years we have failed to optimize the technologies that have come about to […]
Shay Assad, progress payments, pricing scandals, and a re-run of acquisition history
In January 2018, [USD(AT&L) Ellen] Lord called [DPAP Shay] Assad to her office to vent her frustration with the inconsistent performance of major defense firms. […]
The Chinese Navy, system of systems, and intangible knowledge
Here’s where I rest my analytical case today. The proof is really in the pudding. If you look at what the PLA Navy is receiving […]
Is the DOD actually risk-averse?
The conventional wisdom is that the defense acquisition system is very risk averse. I don’t think that’s right and I don’t think we’re risk averse. […]
Chinese government declassifies 3,000 space patents to spur startups
In January 2017, Xi Jinping established the Central Commission for Integrated Military and Civilian Development, a high-level body to oversee the implementation of military-civil fusion. […]
Putin takes pride in Russia’s defense acquisition
What is curious and what we should certainly pay attention to and take pride in is that despite the modest military spending we not only […]
Military services are about creating cultures
Military services are about creating cultures. They’re about creating the people who are dedicated to supporting specific warfighting domains, and those cultures permeate everything in […]
Israeli F-35s penetrate Iranian airspace undetected; Iran general sacked for cover-up
Israeli F-35 stealth fighters fly secret mission undetected in Iranian airspace. Teheran sacks air defence commander for failure to report intrusion… The [Kuwaiti] newspaper’s […]
What Adm. Moran said about bystanders and trust before he withdrew from CNO
Admiral William Moran will not be the next Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) because he maintained a friendship with a Navy Commander who sexually harassed […]
How the Space Corps reorg is shaping up
Will the Space Force or Space Corps — whatever Congress decides to call it — legally count as a new armed service? creating a new organization for space […]
DIB recommends new appropriation to meet software challenges
The following is a lengthy excerpt from the Defense Innovation Board’s Software Acquisition and Practices (SWAP) appropriations subgroup. I think it is an excellent expression […]
The boarder wall and reprogramming authority in the DOD
While serving as undersecretary of defense (comptroller), I presided over DoD financial management during the dark days of 2013 when sequestration slashed funding for military […]
I beseech you, Norm Augustine, to think it possible you be mistaken
Defense acquisition in the United States is quite unique. It is a monopsony that has monopolies embedded within it. People’s lives — even our nation’s […]