Section 809 Panel - Recommendation #41 - Establish a Sustainment Program Baseline, Implement Key Enablers of Sustainment, Elevate Sustainment to Equal Standing with Development and Procurement, and Improve the Defense Materiel Enterprise Focus on Weapon System Readiness

Abstract

Although sustainment is critical to supporting warfighting capability and is 70 percent of Department of Defense spending on a weapon system during its lifecycle, it does not have the same standing, unity of command, or governing document that exists for the development, production, and fielding phases of acquisition. This recommendation creates a sustainment program baseline similar to the existing acquisition program baseline, managed by an empowered program manager responsible and accountable for sustainment.