Defense reform misses target.In the September September: see month. 2004 issue of National Defense, an article by Sandra sandra (sänˑ·dr  ),adj Erwin addressed how "Technical Skills Shortage Hurts Pentagon's Bottom Line." This "shortage" of technical skills and management capability within the Defense Department is self-inflicted self-in·flict·ed adj. Inflicted or imposed on oneself: died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound. self-inflicted adj → infligido a sí mismo and has resulted from the implementation of questionable "acquisition reform" policies over the past decade. The consequences were, unfortunately, quite predictable. The Pentagon Pentagon Huge five-sided building (1941–43) in Arlington, Va., that is the headquarters of the U.S. Department of Defense. Designed by George Edwin Bergstrom, it was, on its completion, the world's largest office building, covering 34 acres (14 hectares) and offering has only itself to blame. Acquisition reform has been implemented without adequate attention to the government's functional responsibilities of maintaining control, discipline and accountability in acquiring operationally effective weapon systems. The current reform minimizes government direction, guidance and participation, and maximizes privatization privatization: see nationalization. privatization Transfer of government services or assets to the private sector. State-owned assets may be sold to private owners, or statutory restrictions on competition between privately and publicly owned and industrial management of Defense Department programs. American industry has a very capable and productive workforce, but the first priority of corporate management is the profit/loss bottom line. This focus, particularly in the R&D phase, is counter-productive to the required innovation and risk taking needed for the R&D of non-commercial items such as advanced weapon systems. In-house In-house In the context of general equities, keeping an activity within the firm. For example, rather than go to the marketplace and sell a security for a client to anyone, an attempt is made to find a buyer to complete the transaction with the firm. RDT&E laboratories also have competent personnel. However, the first priority of their management is not profit/loss, but innovation and development of the best possible product for the services. The in-house RDT&E laboratories and facilities that traditionally provided these critical technical skills and management support have been severely restricted by these policy changes. The overall effectiveness and efficiency of these in-house RDT&E resources are being destroyed by political interference and through inefficient and parochial pa·ro·chi·al adj. 1. Of, relating to, supported by, or located in a parish. 2. Of or relating to parochial schools. 3. management by the services. Military operational capability has been seriously jeopardized. Without immediate correction of this negative trend, a minimum of 10 to 15 years will be required to regain what is now in the process of being systematically destroyed. This situation can be critically dangerous to national security. Frank Knemeyer China Lake, CA |
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