The Cultural Change Required for Rapid Defense Acquisitions

Abstract

What are the characteristics of organizations, within and external to the government, that perform acquisition and development rapidly? Can these characteristics be abstracted to the broader defense acquisition community? Finally, what cultural changes would need to occur to make rapid acquisition more common in defense acquisitions? A study of 18 rapid acquisition case studies written by Air War College and Air Command and Staff College students identified common characteristics of organizations that perform rapid acquisitions. The students visited and/or interviewed rapid acquisition organizations such as DIU, AFWERX, SOCOM, and the Air Force Rapid Capabilities Office; rapid programs such as the Stryker Infantry Carrier Vehicle, MC-12 Liberty, and F-16 AESA, as well as SpaceX. This paper presents the 24 characteristics as well as the ones most identified as representative of the rapid organizations. Finally, based on these characteristics, this paper offers a recommended change to the culture of defense acquisitions such that rapid acquisitions become more standard.