Reexamining Military Acquisition Reform: Are We There Yet?

Abstract

This monograph examines "Acquisition Reform" (AR) and "Acquisition Excellence" (AE) initiatives undertaken in the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) over the 1990-2003 period. Responding to direction from the Office of the Secretary of Defense (OSD), the U.S. Army and other Military Departments undertook efforts to implement the initiatives, where applicable, in their respective acquisition programs. They did this without regard to where the original ideas for the initiatives first emerged-whether from within their own programs or not. In addition to describing the Army's experience with AR, therefore, the report also provides perspective on the nature and history of the AR movement in DoD overall, based on what happened in the 1990-2003 period.