Developing Program Management Leadership for Acquisition Reform

Abstract

Recent reform measures in acquisition processes support the acquisition community's long-established goal of providing warfighters with the highest quality and most cost-effective weapons systems. Since the role of the Program Manager remains pivotal to overall program success or failure, efforts to reform the acquisition community must supplement and expand traditional expectations of PMs, focusing on four key concepts: ensuring leadership continuity, providing systems engineering training, requiring increased hands-on training, and employing trust-building tools. The turnaround of the USAF C-17 program illustrates the successful effects of building trust among program stakeholders. With these qualities, PMs leading the development of future weapons systems will unquestionably contribute to the U.S. military's sustained role as the most capable, powerful, and respected military in the world.