The effect of the “weapon systems” concept on the defense supplier base
In 1955, for example, Fortune magazine reported that United Aircraft dealt directly with as many as 7,000 subcontractors and suppliers and North American with 10,000. […]
Elliot Converse
Should R&D and Procurement be separated or paired together?
Basically research and procurement are incompatible. New developments are upsetting to procurement standards and procurement schedules. A procurement group is under the constant urge to […]
The days when 3-5 years for fighter aircraft development was too long
In the judgment of the committee, the services unnecessarily complicated those relationships with “meticulous supervision” exercised through restrictive procedures that badly needed simplifying. In addition […]
Financial managers: the “garrison in the conquered city” of the Pentagon?
The principal antagonist of the Joint Chiefs within the central defense organization was the Comptroller. Like the JCS, however, his office afforded an excellent illustration […]
Rise of centralization post-WWII
To one extent or another, each of the technical services carried out research and development (including test and evaluation), procurement, production, supply, and even maintenance […]