Defense Acquisition Analysis

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Defense acquisition authority is derived from several different places, but allows the Executive Branch, Congress, and the defense industry to all have significant roles and responsibilities for an effective acquisition system without giving too much power to any one component. As a result, this system creates proper checks and balances while maximizing taxpayer dollars and delivering necessary capability to the warfighter. It is also important to note that the Program Manager (PM) is at the heart of this process, tasked with balancing interests and overcoming challenges to meet mission objectives. Acquisition authority for the Department of Defense (DoD) comes from two main places, public law and executive direction (Brown, 2010). Statutory …show more content…
Objectives of this component include balancing national security with social needs; maximizing competition; and controlling industry profits (Brown, 2010). The Defense Industry (contractors) propose solutions to Government requirements, conduct independent research and development, and design, produce, support, and upgrade defense systems (Brown, 2010). Ultimately, objectives of this component include profit, growth, cash flow, stability, and technological achievement (Brown, 2010). It is apparent that each of the aforementioned functions are tasked to fulfill different roles, therefore having different objectives which best serve their interests. However, it is important that each objective is met via the acquisition process whether it be MDAPs or simple operational contracting support. An article from the Political Transcript Wire (SEN. KELLY, 2015) detailed a Senate Committee Hearing on defense acquisition system reform. The purpose of the hearing was to discuss the current challenges of managing acquisition programs; developing a system that is agile enough to keep up with technological change; and determine if there is an inappropriate level of oversight with the various roles of governmental agencies in the acquisition process. It also discussed budgetary constraints and the difference between the government and industry when it comes to not only budget, but program …show more content…
PMs structure their programs to make sure they accomplish the objectives of the defense acquisition system: to acquire quality products that satisfy the warfighter’s needs, in a timely manner and at a fair and reasonable price (Joint Program, 2004). The structured, regulated, robust defense acquisition system that is currently in place within the DoD is intended to balance objectives, provide transparency for the taxpayer, and ensure capability for the warfighter. However, the end result is reliant on the PM to make sure that

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