Shining a Spotlight on the Defense Acquisition Workforce Again

Abstract

This paper assesses the evidence regarding whether and to what extent specific workforce issues contribute to poor acquisition outcomes in DoD. It describes key concerns about the size, mix, and quality of the defense acquisition workforce, and provides an overview of the workforce and the policy environment influencing its management. It also assesses the strength of the evidence supporting these key concerns, arguing that the information available on workforce size, mix, and quality is insufficient to assess whether more workers, more highly skilled workers, or a different mix of workers would improve acquisition outcomes. We highlight areas where better evidence is needed to understand the linkage between workforce attributes and acquisition outcomes, and recommend steps for assembling the information needed to make, refine or dismiss the case for major new hiring or training initiatives.