Learning from Experience: Acquisition Professional Education for this Century

Abstract

We have been educating and training people in acquisition skills since the days of the Polaris missile development and the Semi-Automatic Ground Environment (SAGE). More recently, the importance of an educated acquisition workforce was front and center in the 2019 Section 809 panel’s findings, which recommended a new competency model for the career development of the acquisition workforce. The findings emphasize the necessity of gaining acquisition qualifications through “a combination of education, training, and practice.” This paper suggests three themes to consider as we look to improving weapons systems development. The first is the project manager (PM) and leadership team. Today, more than ever, the PM is no longer the hero; in fact, project success is a direct reflection of the project leadership team, not just the project manager. The second idea is the way we educate the acquisition workforce. Rote and classroom-based learning was acceptable when it was the only option. Today, experiential learning offers a way to ensure we are imparting not just rote learning and certifications but providing our people the knowledge, skills, and experience to effectively control the efforts we charge them to lead. The third topic is focused on the mechanics of education. Using wargaming, we can create a learning environment that provides students experience in managing acquisition without failure.