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NEED TO KNOW

Acquisition Research Program Newsletter

June 6, 2025       —       Issue 242

Happy Friday!

This week, the Pentagon is making moves to emulate Ukraine's success in rapidly fielding new drone technology -- a project that seems even more urgent after last weekend's demonstration of the devastating damage inexpensive drones can deliver to very expensive bombers.

In other news, applications are open for the 2026 Immersive Commercial Acquisition Program (ICAP) fellowship...

...SECNAV Phelan visits the NPS campus...

...Congress is looking to formalize the reservist corps that the Defense Innovation Unit uses to help connect the Pentagon with Silicon Valley...

...and an award-winning essay from NPS student Anthony Becker explores threats to DOD's vision for human-controlled AI.

Plus, we have a pile research and articles about rebuilding the defense industrial base.

And we've just released another video from the 22nd Annual Research Symposium and Innovation Summit -- this one a plenary panel on "Innovative Acquisition" moderated by David Berteau of the Professional Services Council. Check it out here.

Enjoy!

This Week's Top Stories 

Ruchi Saraf, senior training associate with Building Momentum, checks the drone designs of U.S. Army Spc. Adonis Sanchez, left, and Pfc. Jacob Morgan, both assigned to the 3rd Combat Aviation Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division, prior to their test flights at an airfield in Hinesville, Georgia, July 25, 2024. (U.S. Army photo by Pfc. Henry Benson)

Pentagon pushes US dronemakers to innovate as quickly as Ukraine does
Patrick Tucker, Defense One

Project GI, a new Pentagon initiative led by the Defense Innovation Unit, aims to dramatically speed up drone development by incorporating real-time feedback directly from frontline troops, mirroring Ukraine's rapid innovation against Russian forces.

• Quick Adaptation: This program seeks to create a continuous loop of design, testing, and deployment to overcome the traditionally slow pace of U.S. military acquisition, where even "fast" efforts can take years.
• Supply Chain: Scaling production depends on reducing US dependence on China for key drone components like magnets and lenses.
• Reshoring Time: Reshoring production to scale could take over a year, with measurable improvements seen around 9-12 months and exponential deliveries starting around 15 months.

Submit a Solution: Project G.I. 

Michael Duffey confirmed as Pentagon’s chief weapons buyer 
Valerie Insinna, Breaking Defense

Michael Duffey has been confirmed as the Pentagon's top weapons buyer, taking on the role of Undersecretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment at a critical time for defense modernization and production. Duffey served as associate director at the Office of Management and Budget during the first Trump term and held multiple roles within the Pentagon over 14 years, including chief of staff to the undersecretary of defense for research & engineering.

DOD Announces FY26 Acquisition Program Fellowship Application Window 
Devon Bistarkey, DIU/DOD

The Department of Defense (DOD) is accepting applications for the fiscal year 2026 Immersive Commercial Acquisition Program (ICAP) fellowship, a competitive initiative designed to train contracting professionals in rapidly acquiring and integrating commercial technologies.

• Acquisition Change Agents: ICAP is a key tool for training innovation-fluent contracting officers, with the aim of equipping the workforce to navigate commercial and modern software acquisitions to meet defense needs.
• Commercial Perspective: The program provides valuable insight into the commercial market and dynamic commercial organizations.
• Practical Experience: Fellows gain hands-on experience with DIU's commercial solutions opening process and the other transaction authority (OTA), which are crucial for engaging nontraditional defense companies and accessing commercial solutions not available through traditional channels.

Secretary of the Navy John C. Phelan speaks with allied military and partner nation students during a visit to NPS, May 29. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Janiel F. Adames)

SECNAV Phelan Makes Inaugural Visit to NPS
NPS Public Affairs

The Honorable John Phelan, 79th Secretary of the Navy, visited the Naval Postgraduate School (NPS) last week, emphasizing the crucial role of advanced education and rapid innovation in strengthening naval warfighting capabilities and ensuring the U.S. maintains its strategic advantage at the pace of modern combat and ensuring US strategic advantage.

• Research Showcase: Students presented research on various topics, including ship systems engineering, acquisition reform, artificial intelligence, ocean sensing, autonomy, space, and additive manufacturing.
• Cultivating Leaders: "I am looking for ways to adapt and adopt industry innovation at greater speeds to modernize our Navy," Phelan said. "We need to equip our leaders with the knowledge and skills to help evolve technology solutions at the pace of modern combat, and I see this happening now at NPS."

ARP and NPS News

DDM Alum Featured in "Faces of NPS"
NPS Foundation

Air Force Capt. Grant Wilson, a 2024 graduate of the Contract Management program, was featured in the NPS Foundation's May "Faces of NPS" newsletter.

Capt. Wilson presented his research at our recent Acquisition Research Symposium and Innovation Summit. His paper, titled "Unpacking the Authority to Operate (ATO) Process: Implications for the DoD," examines the Air Force ATO process and makes recommendations for speeding technology transition by ensuring that novel technologies can connect to the government’s network in a timely and seamless manner. The paper and presentation (co-authored with current and former DMM professors Jamie Porchia and Daniel Finkenstadt) can be viewed here.

SEAL Nominated for 4th Star, commander of U.S. Special Operations Command
Seapower Magazine

NPS alum Vice Adm. Frank M. Bradley has been nominated for appointment to the grade of admiral, with assignment as commander of the U.S. Special Operations Command.

Bradley completed a Master’s degree in Physics at NPS, where he received a provisional patent for his research in 2006.

Innovative Acquisition: Driving Technology Transition with Results-Oriented Approaches, moderated by Hon. David Berteau

Did you know the Navy has tripled its use of OTAs since Maria A. Proestou took over as Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Navy, Acquisition Policy & Budget?

That's just one of the Navy's recent successes when it comes to technology transfer. Ms. Proestou shared some of the insights and strategies shaping the Navy's approach to fielding more relevant technology and capacity to the Fleet during a roundtable discussion at last month's event, "Creating Synergy for Informed Change: Transitioning Technology to the Warfighter," the NPS 22nd Annual Acquisition Research Symposium and Innovation Summit.

Other highlights from the panel:

• Mr. Patrick Mason, Senior Official Performing the Duties of the Assistant Secretary of the Army, (Acquisition, Logistics and Technology) gave an update on the Army's recent Transformation Initiative and how the Army is considering how to deliver a suite of capabilities to formations and scale it appropriately, using tools such as their Project Convergence events.
• Pete Modigliani, Senior Advisor at Govini, highlighted the benefits of portfolio management, to provide an enterprise level view of how DOD can prioritize programs, budgets, and efforts to provide capabilities and close kill chains. This is part of how DoD is rethinking how we structure, build strategies, and integrate capabilities to maximize ROI.

It was a wide-ranging, insightful conversation -- and the recording is now available! Watch it here. 

Acquisition

A Trident II D-5 breaks the surface during a performance evaluation test off the Florida coast. Today’s submarine-launched ballistic missiles depend on many of the technologies first developed in the “high velocity” Polaris program of the 1950s and 1960s. U.S. Naval Institute Photo Archive

People Create High Velocity Outcomes
Commander Joel Holwitt, Proceedings

The author argues that rapid and successful ballistic missile development programs of the 1950s and early 1960s succeeded primarily because of the talented individuals involved, not the formal processes that were later codified. It contends that modern defense acquisition's overemphasis on process hinders speed and calls for a renewed focus on cultivating and empowering skilled people to achieve timely "high-velocity outcomes" needed today.

• Process Origins: Today's defense acquisition processes were formalized in the late 1950s and early 1960s based on attempts to systematize the successes of the ICBM and SLBM programs.
• People Driven: The true success of those missile programs stemmed from the caliber of the people involved: bright civilian scientists, talented uniformed scientists and engineers, and leaders who inspired dedication and shared a vision. As one source notes, "people, more than anything else, were the method".
• Expertise Decline: Military-scientific collaboration has atrophied, and while uniformed experts exist, programs are often run by "acquisition professionals" who may lack deep R&D experience.

The acquisition rule (re)writers really want you to have your say
Ross Wilkers, NextGov

Leaders of the effort to overhaul the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) are actively seeking and incorporating feedback from industry stakeholders throughout the process.

• Feedback Channel: Industry can monitor the output of the workstream, view master deviations, and provide feedback via the Acquisition.gov website, which is highlighted as an "indispensable resource". While feedback is read now, formal responses will occur during the later rulemaking stage, where each FAR part change will have a standard 45-day feedback period.
• Targeted Changes: Changes and class deviations have already begun for specific parts of the FAR, including Part 1 (the system itself), Part 34 (major system acquisitions), Part 10 (market research), and Part 52 (solicitation provisions and contract clauses).

Cut to DOD’s Test Enterprise Alarms Critics, Fearing Loss of ‘Honest Broker’
John Tirpak, Air & Space Forces Magazine

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has directed significant staff and budget reductions for the Pentagon's independent testing office, the Director of Operational Test and Evaluation (DOT&E), viewing it as a hindrance to rapid weapons fielding. Critics argue this drastic cut removes vital oversight and expertise, risking the deployment of ineffective systems and undermining accountability.

• Expertise Loss: Former officials like Greg Zacharias, a former chief scientist at DOT&E, warned the cuts eliminate around 250 highly skilled testers whom he called the "cream of the crop".
• Honest Broker: DOT&E is widely viewed as a "truth-teller" and "honest broker" for Congress, primarily through its annual report on major defense acquisition programs which highlights shortfalls. Critics, including Senator Jack Reed, argue that reducing DOT&E to a "skeleton crew" means it cannot provide "adequate oversight," risking operational readiness and taxpayer dollars.

Using artificial intelligence to reduce DoD’s procurement timelines
Terry Gerton, Federal News Network

This interview with Wilson Miles of the Emerging Technologies Institute (ETI) explores the promises and challenges of integrating AI technology into the DOD acquisition process. Miles is a co-author of a recent report from MITRE and ETI on leveraging AI in acquisitions.

• Data Power: These tools are good at pulling and analyzing large amounts of data to help answer questions previously unanswerable or requiring significant human ingenuity that professionals lack time for.
• Measure Success: Measuring success quantitatively is difficult. Evaluators need clear metrics for success beyond just time savings, potentially including aspects like competition levels or retention of contracting professionals.
• Coordinate Development: There's a need for a coordinated effort, potentially a program of record, specifically targeting the development of acquisition tools and business operations systems, which currently lack sufficient attention.
• Full Report: Accelerating the Future: Leveraging AI for Transformative Federal Acquisition 

Innovation

Ukrainian soldier flies a drone

Now that’s innovation: Ukrainian army units compete for weapons; start-ups compete for their business
Henry Campbell, Australian Strategic Policy Institute

Ukraine's Brave1 initiative, including its e-commerce platform Brave1 Market, presents a new blueprint for defense innovation by overhauling procurement and logistics to foster a direct connection between soldiers and industry.

• Industry Transformation: Brave1 has supported a rapid growth in the number of Ukrainian defence companies, expanding from a few dozen to over 1500 since 2022. Many are small to medium-sized start-ups highly focused on integrating research and development into production.
• Feedback Loop: At its core is a triangular feedback system connecting Ukrainian military command, soldiers, and industry, linking procurement, logistics, and targeting.
• Soldier Empowerment: Based on the "Army of Drones" points program, soldiers earn points for destroying priority targets, use them to order equipment directly from manufacturers, and provide crucial real-time battlefield intelligence through kill verification videos and even user reviews.
• Market Intelligence: The system acts as an "invisible hand," providing the government and industry with real-time data on demand for equipment, guiding procurement and development decisions. Military command can also adjust point values to influence targeting based on strategic objectives.

Inside the US Army’s C2 upgrade – what industry can expect
Joseph Welch, Defense News

U.S. Army's Next Generation Command and Control (NGC2) initiative represents a fundamental transformation in how the Army acquires and delivers data-driven C2 capabilities, aiming for seamlessly integrated systems from corps down to squads using commercial technology and simplified processes.

• Commercial Tech: The Army emphasizes buying truly commercial technology rather than custom modifications to overcome obsolescence and stay on an affordable path to innovation.
• Simplify Requirements: NGC2 simplifies requirements using a four-page “Characteristics of Need” document that describes the problem rather than dictating the solution.
• Flexible Teaming: The Army will initially contract with two or more industry team leads accountable for the core program and ecosystem. They encourage non-exclusive industry teams, allowing component providers to partner across different leads and enabling direct engagement with individual team member companies.
• Continuous Solicitation: The Army intends to maintain a continuous open solicitation balanced with specific “windows” for decision points to manage competition and funding assurance.

Defense & Strategy

Even if cyborgs powered by artificial intelligence (AI) remain in the realm of science fiction, AI that assists commanders in the field and at sea is already beginning to arrive, and its capacity and reach will only grow.

What Threatens Human Control of Military AI
Lieutenant Commander Anthony Becker, Proceedings

NPS student Anthony Becker, winner of this year's Naval Postgraduate School Essay Contest, sponsored by the NPS Foundation and the US Naval Institute, examines risks inherent in advanced AI -- such as tendencies toward sycophancy, emergent misalignment, and deceptive behavior -- that challenge the Department of Defense's goal of maintaining human control over military systems. These "alignment" problems could lead to situations where commanders act on AI recommendations they don't fully understand or that subtly contradict their intent, potentially reducing human operators to passive observers.

• Becoming Ghosts: Alignment challenges create an "inexorable pull toward deference to the machine," risking that human operators become passive observers, or "ghosts in the machine," rather than maintaining the locus of battle control.

Industry

Cell guides on the Ane Maersk, A.P. Moller-Maersk A/S’s newest methanol-powered container ship, foreground, at the HD Hyundai Heavy Industries Co. shipyard in Ulsan, South Korea, on Thursday, Jan. 25, 2024. (Photographer: SeongJoon Cho/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

Allies are more than customers of America’s defense industrial base. They can help rebuild it.
Tom Corben, Breaking Defense

The U.S. needs its allies, particularly Australia, India, Japan, and South Korea, not just as customers but as partners to help rebuild its strained defense industrial base -- ultimately sharing the burden of collective security in an increasingly insecure world.

• Enable Contribution: To maximize allied help, reforms must make it easier for allies to work with the Pentagon, including actively considering allied solutions for critical technologies, revising contracting processes that disadvantage non-US firms, and fine-tuning export controls.

Implications of Russia's War on Ukraine for the U.S. and Allied Defense Industrial Bases
Alisa Laufer, Howard J. Shatz, Omar Danaf, RAND

The Russia-Ukraine war has significantly impacted U.S. and European defense industrial bases (DIBs), highlighting existing strains and prompting policy discussions on investment, procurement, and production capacities. The research analyzes the state of these DIBs before and during the war, identifying challenges and recommending responses to improve future capabilities and transatlantic cooperation.

Could an ARPA Help Resurrect US Manufacturing?
William B. Bonvillian, Issues

The United States faces significant challenges with its manufacturing sector, marked by decline, lost jobs, and an inability to keep pace with global competitors, problems exacerbated by recent supply chain shocks and conflicts. While traditional policies have fallen short, there is a growing argument that fostering technological surprise and leaps in productivity, potentially through the creation of an ARPA-like entity for manufacturing, is necessary to rebuild the industrial base.

• ARPA Proposed: An ARPA (Advanced Research Projects Agency) model, known for fostering high-risk, breakthrough research beyond incremental advances, is one potential way to address the manufacturing sector's complex problems.
• Model Requirements: A successful manufacturing ARPA (ARPA-M) would need independence ("island-bridge" model), the ability to transition technology to the market (requiring significant funding or a link to large procurement budgets), and a culture of boldness and risk-taking.
• Location Matters: DOD has a major stake in the industrial base, understands the ARPA model, and possesses significant procurement spending that could drive technology adoption, similar to its historical role with CNC machining.

Congress & Government

A team of Department of Defense drone operators and experts test the technical capabilities of various Uncrewed Aerial Systems during a Defense Innovation Unit-led prize challenge at Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center, Twentynine Palms, Calif., in November 2024. Defense Department / Devon Bistarkey

Bill aims to lock in DIU’s dual-use reservist corps
Patrick Tucker, Defense One

A proposed bill aims to permanently formalize the Defense Innovation Unit's (DIU) Joint Reserve Detachment, composed of tech-savvy reservists who bridge the gap between the Pentagon and Silicon Valley. This initiative seeks to ensure the military can continuously leverage commercial technology expertise to stay ahead of threats by making this dual-use capability a permanent fixture rather than a discretionary project.

Related: Fireside Chat with DIU's Doug Beck & NPS President Ann Rondeau 

Research

The Virginia-class attack submarine USS New Mexico (SSN-779) returns to Naval Submarine Base New London following their participation in the Fellowship 2012 exercise with the Royal Navy submarine HMS Astute (SSN 20). New Mexico and Astute performed various tracking, deterrence and attack scenarios to test and certify each respective submarine's capabilities. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Virginia K. Schaefer)

Case Study on Industrial Base Planning for Future Attack Class Submarines
Justin Ort, NPS

This thesis analyzes the Virginia-class submarine program to extract crucial lessons regarding industrial base planning for future attack-class submarines. By employing DOTmLPF-P and SWOT analysis frameworks, the study aims to inform future program managers involved in submarine and ship acquisition.

Identifying Novel Ways to Incentivize Industry in Defense Acquisition
Dr. John (Jerry) G. McGinn, Dr. Edward Hyatt, Acquisition Innovation Research Center

This research project explores current and emerging Department of Defense (DoD) engagement models and proposes recommendations, emphasizing that while improving engagement is important, fundamentally changing incentive structures will have a significant impact on government-industry collaboration.

OECD Supply Chain Resilience Review
Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development

This OECD report highlights the increasing vulnerability of global supply chains. It argues that simply bringing production home is not the answer, as this could significantly hurt economies without guaranteeing greater resilience. Instead, the report advocates for proactive policies and international cooperation to manage risks effectively and leverage the benefits of global trade, emphasizing the need for agile and adaptable supply chains that consider technological and environmental shifts.

Reauthorizing the Defense Production Act in the Era of Defense Mobilization and Supply-side Industrial Policy
Michael Hikari Cecire, Journal of Advanced Military Studies

The article argues that while the DPA has become increasingly central to the government’s industrial policy initiatives, its application has been broadly inconsistent, unevenly coordinated, and insufficiently integrated into broader strategic frameworks. Reauthorization of the DPA could include creating a more permanent and coordinated executive branch infrastructure, clarifying its use as an emergency versus routine policy tool, and identifying gaps in future deployment.

Options for Strengthening the Use of Defense Production Act Title VII
Dr. John (Jerry) G. McGinn, Ms. Olivia Letts, Acquisition Innovation Research Center

This research explores how Sections 708 and 710 of the Defense Production Act (DPA) Title VII could be used to strengthen the defense industrial base for potential major conflicts. The project identifies past uses and current status of these authorities and proposed recommendations for their future application.

Events

Spring 2025 Naval AI Summit
10-12 June 2025
Naval Postgraduate School
Virtual

AI Acquisition Bootcamp
11 June 2025
Virtual

DLA Supply Chain Alliance Conference & Exhibition
11-12 June 2025
Richmond, VA

Future Unmanned Surface Vessel (USV) Industry Day
17 June 2025
Washington, DC

Training & Simulation Industry Symposium (TSIS) 2025
17-18 June 2025
Orlando, FL

Other Transaction Authority (OTA) Workshop
18 June 2025
Norfolk, VA

Advanced Manufacturing for Defense
24-25 June 2025
Los Angeles, CA

MTO Spark Tank
24-25 July 2025
Aurora, CO

MODSIM World 2025
18-20 August 2025
Norfolk, VA

2025 Emerging Technologies for Defense
27-29 August 2025
Washington, DC

I/ITSEC 2025: Optimizing Training: Ensuring Operational Dominance
1-4 December 2025
Orlando, FL

One more thing...

U.S. Marines with the United States Marine Corps Silent Drill Platoon execute their "bursting bomb" sequence during Fleet Week New York in Times Square, New York City, N.Y., May 21, 2025. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Christopher Prelle)

Marines, Sailors, and Coast Guardsmen Connect with New York City Residents
Lance Cpl. Ellen Guo, Headquarters Marine Corps

The 37th Annual Fleet Week New York brought together U.S. Marines, Sailors, and Coast Guardsmen from May 21-27, 2025.

• 250th Celebration: This year's event was significant as the Navy and Marine Corps celebrated their 250 years anniversary.
• Showcase Readiness: The event aims for the public to see that their Marine Corps, Navy, and Coast Guard stand ready to defend them at any moment. It showcases the readiness and capabilities of the fleet, including their lethality and presence from the sea.
• Key Activities: Events included the opening Parade of Ships, performances by the Silent Drill Platoon and 2nd Marine Division Band, the Freedom Run ending at the World Trade Center Memorial, military competitions, and public access to ship tours and aviation static displays.
• Inspire the Future: A goal for the event is to display inspiration for future generations of Marines by showcasing the Marine Corps' culture of integrity and carrying forward its 250-year legacy.

Maureen Lauder, PhD, Communications Manager
Karey Shaffer, MBA, Program Manager
Acquisition Research Program
Naval Postgraduate School
e: ARPEditor@nps.edu 

Note: Article summaries were generated with the help of AI tools.

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NEED TO KNOW

Acquisition Research Program Newsletter

May 30, 2025       —       Issue 241

Happy Friday!

The Pentagon has been busy this week, announcing a major shake-up of the Office of the Director of Operational Test and Evaluation (ODOT&E) and issuing new rules on procuring non-commercial technology and issuing IT consulting contracts.

Plus we've got in-depth analysis of hidden costs associated with the Air Force's CCA program...

...a look at how the US Army is distributing risk and accelerating timelines on its FLRAA tilt-rotor aircraft program...

... and new research from Center for Strategic and International Studies on pathways to increase shipbuilding partnerships with Northeast Asian Allies. (And thanks to co-author Henry Carroll, who presented the findings at the NPS 22nd Annual Acquisition Research Symposium and Innovation Summit earlier this month!)

And don't miss the Hon. Sean Stackley's just-released keynote address from that same event. He gave a stirring address that called on the acquisition workforce to put mission ahead of process and act with decisiveness and urgency.

This Week's Top Stories 

Anduril’s Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) on display at AFA. (Valerie Insinna/Breaking Defense)

CCA sticker shock: Coming soon to a congressional hearing near you?
Travis Sharp, Breaking Defense

New research from the Center for Strategic and Budgetary Assessments suggests that, despite its emphasis on "affordable mass," the Air Force's focus on the procurement price per aircraft for the CCA program is creating unrealistic expectations about the total costs. This narrow focus risks future "sticker shock" in Congress when the full lifecycle costs become apparent, potentially jeopardizing the entire program.

Full Report: Ready Player None? An End-To-End Assessment of the Air Force Collaborative Combat Aircraft Program
 

New Pentagon memo tightens non-commercial tech procurement rules in line with executive order
Carley Welch, Breaking Defense

The Pentagon has issued a new memo, aligning with an April 15 executive order, to significantly tighten rules and processes for procuring non-commercial technology.

• Stricter Justification: Acquisition leaders are directed to be more stringent in identifying and using commercial solutions and are discouraged from misclassifying truly non-commercial products as commercial.
• Approval Authority: Contracting officers can no longer independently determine if a commercial product or service is sufficient. This approval authority now shifts to senior procurement executives, which can be delegated to general officers, flag officers, or members of the Senior Executive Service.
• Review Deadline: By June 15, contracting officers must review all open solicitations, pre-solicitation notices, award notices, and sole source notices for non-commercial prime contract awards worth more than the $250,000 Simplified Acquisition Threshold.

Pentagon to restructure weapons testing office, cut personnel as part of Hegseth-directed shakeup
Brandi Vincent, DefenseScoop

The Pentagon's Office of the Director of Operational Test and Evaluation (ODOT&E) is undergoing a major internal reorganization, directed by Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth as part of a campaign to eliminate wasteful and duplicative spending.

• Steep Cuts: The office's staff will be significantly reduced. It will deliver its core statutory function through a reduced staff of 30 civilian positions, with no more than one Senior Executive Service (SES) member and 15 assigned military personnel. ODOT&E currently has 94 personnel (82 civilians and 12 military).
• End Contractors: The guidance also requires the termination of all contractor personnel support supplying contracted employees to the office within seven days.
• Transition Lead: Carroll Quade, currently serving as the Department of the Navy’s deputy for test and evaluation, has been appointed to perform the duties of the director of ODOT&E and oversee this transition.
• Memo: Reorganization of the Office of the Director of Operational Test and Evaluation

ARP and NPS News

Hon. Sean Stackley Keynote Address - NPS 22nd Annual Acquisition Research Symposium & Innovation Summit

“We don’t need more policy or regulation, or even streamlining. We need more good people.”

This was a central theme of Hon. Sean Stackley’s keynote address on the second day of “Creating Synergy for Informed Change: Transitioning Technology to the Warfighter,” the NPS 22nd Annual Acquisition Research Symposium and Innovation Summit.

Stackley, the former and longest-serving USN (RDA), highlighted the importance of an acquisition workforce that takes urgent, effective action to achieve their mission -- and of leadership that provides top cover.

This bias toward urgency and performance is particularly critical in this moment, said Stackley, when the US is losing ground fast in the race for technical superiority.

Stackley noted China’s increasing military capability in particular, calling for a whole-of-government approach to match the threat.

“Our large, complex problem is, what’s it going to take to win the war? And every program that we launch better be a part of the solution to that problem. But that means putting aside all the policy and process governing acquisition and bringing the country’s great technical industrial base to bear to do whatever it takes to solve that problem on a timeline that matters.”

Watch the full keynote here.

Revamped Bullard Hall Signals a New Era in NPS Modernization for Enhanced Education and Innovation
Matthew Schehl, NPS Public Affairs

Naval Postgraduate School (NPS) has officially reopened Bullard Hall following a significant nearly four-year renovation, marking the first completed step in a comprehensive campus-wide modernization effort. This transformation aims to provide state-of-the-art facilities essential for enhanced scientific education, research, and innovation.

• Digital Twin: Bullard Hall is the first NPS building to have a "digital twin" created using LIDAR scanning. This virtual model supports security, maintenance, operations, and student projects, with future plans for a digital twin of the entire campus.
• Cutting-Edge Labs: The building includes newly outfitted labs for space vehicle design and the CubeSat program. It also houses a new Space Operations Center (SOC) for real-time monitoring of NPS CubeSats.
• Innovation Spaces: The renovation added classified instruction and work areas, as well as spaces to facilitate innovation and collaboration.
• Supporting Warfighters: The overall modernization is fundamental to enhancing NPS' mission to develop technologically competent leaders and generate innovative warfighting solutions needed by the Fleet.

NPS Launches an AI Task Force

Vice Provost for Warfare Studies, retired U.S. Marine Corps Col. Randy Pugh will be heading the NPS Artificial Intelligence Task Force, a cross-disciplinary team to accelerate research, development, deployment, and integration of artificial intelligence solutions for military applications. With the university’s ongoing partnership with technology giant NVIDIA, the NPS NVIDIA Tech Center, the installation of the Omniverse simulation platform in ITACS, and other investments, the university is poised to be the center point for Naval and Joint education, experimentation, and capability development.

Department of Defense Management (DDM) Professors Recognized for Teaching Excellence

Congratulations to Associate Professor Ryan Sullivan, Associate Professor Amilcar Menichini, Assistant Professor Sae (Tom) Young Ahn, and Assistant Chair for Contract Management and Lecturer Kelley Poree, who were recently recognized by NPS for their teaching performance.

A survey of students and alumni identified Dr. Sullivan in the top 5% of NPS professors and Dr. Menichini, Dr. Ahn and Mr. Poree in the top 10%.

Our talented DDM professors are helping to shape the next generation of innovative leaders who will transform how DOD designs, develops, and delivers capabilities to the field.

For more information about Defense Management programs and degrees, visit the DDM website.

Acquisition

Acting Chief of Naval Operations Adm. James Kilby tours training centers during the Accelerated Training in Defense Manufacturing (ATDM) Summit at the Institute for Advanced Learning and Research (IALR), Danville, Virginia, April 29, 2025. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Vanessa White)

Acquisition Reform, at a Crossroads
Julia Gledhill, Stimson Center

This analysis from the Stimson Center examines recent efforts to reform the defense acquisition system, drawing parallels to changes made in the 1990s. The author argues that sweeping deregulation, driven by executive orders and proposed legislation like the FoRGED Act, risks reducing competition and increasing costs for taxpayers by weakening requirements for contractors to disclose pricing information.

• Weakened Oversight: Reforms from the 1990s significantly weakened the Truth in Negotiations Act (TINA) by increasing the mandatory disclosure threshold for certified cost or pricing data. The definition of "commercial" products was also hollowed out under FASA, allowing items "of a type" similar to commercial to bypass certified cost data requirements, even if never sold to the public.
• Questionable Outcomes: Despite claims that acquisition reform will build military-industrial capacity, studies show contractors have increased cash to shareholders while decreasing investment in capital and R&D. Reforms from the 1990s ultimately failed to achieve their stated goal of increased efficiency.

Hegseth orders restrictions on DOD contracting for IT consulting and management services
Jon Harper, DefenseScoop

Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth has issued a new directive aimed at restricting the Department of Defense's use of external IT consulting and management service contracts. This action is part of a push to in-source more IT expertise at DOD.

Moving faster, sharing risk: How the Army wants to accelerate FLRAA helo program
Ashley Roque, Breaking Defense

The U.S. Army is speeding up the Future Long-Range Assault Aircraft (FLRAA) program, aiming to significantly reduce the gap between when prototypes are delivered and when production of the Bell V-280 Valor can begin. This accelerated timeline involves a deliberate strategy of moving directly into production and a commitment from both the Army and manufacturer Bell to share the inherent risks associated with this faster pace.

Innovation

US Navy photo

Navy Wants to Do Away with White Smoke in Warzones
Stew Magnuson, National Defense

The United States Navy is researching ways to eliminate the visible white smoke trails produced by missile launches and other weaponry, a signature that makes ships and forces easily detectable from vast distances.

• Visible Problem: White exhaust trails from traditional cast composite propellants are a significant issue because they can be seen from space. The trails point back to ships and forces, negating the benefits of stealth platforms and reducing survivability.
• Energetics Solution: The Naval Surface Warfare Center Indian Head Division is exploring new energetic technologies, ingredients, and formulations to reduce the large white trail.
• Legacy Integration: The Navy intends to find creative ways to utilize this new technology with legacy weapon systems already in their magazines.

Company Develops Robotic ‘Vending Machine’ for Aircraft Parts
Allyson Park, National Defense

Machina Labs has developed an advanced robotic manufacturing technology designed to function as a "vending machine" for producing critical aircraft repair parts on demand.

• Mission Readiness: The platform's main capability is sheet forming, deforming flat sheet metal into desired shapes used for aircraft repair. This technology directly tackles the challenge of maintaining legacy defense systems, where years-long delays in acquiring specific parts can hurt mission readiness.
• Parts On-Demand: The vision is for the system to be a "vending machine" for parts. Once a part design is qualified, a technician can simply load material and click a button to manufacture it instantly.

Defense & Strategy

U.S. Army Gen. Bryan Fenton, commander of U.S. Special Operations Command, gives a keynote speech during the SOF Week 2025 conference in Tampa Bay, Florida, on May 6, 2025. Tech. Sgt. Marleah Miller / U.S. Special Operations Command

Special operations are becoming the Pentagon’s future ‘normal’
Patrick Tucker, Defense One

U.S. Special Operations Forces (SOF) are increasingly viewed as a model for the wider military, influencing everything from operational speed to technology acquisition, despite concerns about over-reliance and neglecting their key irregular warfare capabilities.

• Acquisition Reform: SOF's approach to buying gear – using alternative contracts, buying off-the-shelf, and rapid experimentation – is being promoted as a model for the broader Pentagon acquisition system.

The Pentagon’s cyber malaise: Zero trust deadlines translate to zero urgency
Lucian Niemeyer and Tatyana Bolton, Defense Scoop

DOD faces a significant challenge with implementing Zero Trust cyber protections for its operational technology (OT), critical assets that underpin military power projection. Despite confirmed adversary targeting of these systems today, the Pentagon has proposed a distant "soft" deadline of 2035 or beyond, which critics argue signals unpreparedness and invites further attacks.

Industry

The unmanned surface vessel (USV) Ranger from Unmanned Surface Vessel Division One (USVDIV-1) returns to its homeport, Naval Base Ventura County, in Port Hueneme, California, concluding Integrated Battle Problem (IBP) 23.2, Jan. 15, 2024. (U.S. Navy photo by Electronics Technician 2nd Class Gavin McKenna)

Navy to brief industry on plans for new robotic ship program
Jon Harper, Defense Scoop

The Navy is preparing to brief industry on its plans for a new unmanned surface vessel (USV) program, dubbed Future USV, designed to carry containerized payloads. This initiative is a key part of the Navy's strategy to rapidly expand warfighting capacity, enhance stealth by keeping sailors out of harm's way, and strengthen deterrence, particularly in regions like the Indo-Pacific.

Special Notice: Future Unmanned Surface Vessel (USV) Industry Day

Strengthening Allied Defense Cooperation
MITRE

This policy brief from MITRE argues for legislative and policy changes to bolster the US defense industrial base by deepening cooperation with allies.

• Workforce Silos: A primary bottleneck hindering integration is the DoD acquisition workforce’s limited visibility into allied investments and capabilities and a lack of structured engagement with international counterparts.
• Regulatory Barriers: Cumbersome regulations like the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR), Export Administration Regulations (EAR), and Foreign Military Sales (FMS) processes significantly impede defense trade and disincentivize allied participation.
• Institutionalize Engagement: Policy updates must mandate systematic inclusion of allied capability assessments in acquisition planning and formalize collaboration mechanisms.
• Legislative Action: To achieve sustained progress towards a truly interoperable allied industrial base, policy updates must be codified through legislative directives like the NDAA and amendments to the Arms Export Control Act.

Research

PO2 Tamara Vaughn/U.S. Navy via DVIDS

Identifying Pathways for U.S. Shipbuilding Cooperation with Northeast Asian Allies
Henry H. Carroll and Cynthia R. Cook, Center for Strategic and International Studies

This paper explores potential solutions for the U.S. Navy's significant shipbuilding challenges, particularly in the face of China's growing naval power. Various pathways for industrial cooperation exist, but each involves significant trade-offs, regulatory obstacles, and the need to carefully balance reliance on allies with investment in the domestic industrial base.

This research was also presented earlier this month at the NPS 22nd Annual Acquisition Research Symposium and Innovation Summit. Visit ARP's Defense Acquisition Innovation Repository (DAIR) to view the paper and slides and explore other the symposium proceedings.

A Balancing Act: Towards a Conceptual Framework for the Governance of Buyer-Supplier Relationships in Defence Supply Chains
Olger Pedersen, Marianne Jahre, Andreas Norrman

This paper explores the complex dynamics of managing relationships between defense organizations and commercial suppliers across different levels of security, from peace to war. It emphasizes that logistics preparedness is crucial, moving beyond a simple peacetime/wartime approach to include a distinct preparedness phase.

Lessons from the War in Ukraine for Space: Challenges and Opportunities for Future Conflicts
Andrew Radin, Khrystyna Holynska, et al., RAND

This report from RAND examines the critical and often disrupted role space services like SATCOM, PNT, and ISR have played in the war in Ukraine. The conflict demonstrated both the significant value commercial assets bring to warfighting and the inherent vulnerabilities of relying on them.

Waiting to Win: The FMS Accountability Gap
Lisa Saum-Manning, RAND

Lisa Saum-Manning testified before Congress on the U.S. Foreign Military Sales (FMS) program. A crucial tool for transferring defense capabilities to international partners with sales totaling approximately $118 billion in FY24, FMS is significantly hindered by its inherent complexity and scattered authorities. This results in delays in delivering critical defense systems, potentially weakening partner confidence and creating opportunities for adversaries.

Events

Spring 2025 Naval AI Summit
10-12 June 2025
Naval Postgraduate School
Virtual

AI Acquisition Bootcamp
11 June 2025
Virtual

DLA Supply Chain Alliance Conference & Exhibition
11-12 June 2025
Richmond, VA

Future Unmanned Surface Vessel (USV) Industry Day
17 June 2025
Washington, DC

Training & Simulation Industry Symposium (TSIS) 2025
17-18 June 2025
Orlando, FL

Advanced Manufacturing for Defense
24-25 June 2025
Los Angeles, CA

MTO Spark Tank
24-25 July 2025
Aurora, CO

MODSIM World 2025
18-20 August 2025
Norfolk, VA

2025 Emerging Technologies for Defense
27-29 August 2025
Washington, DC

I/ITSEC 2025: Optimizing Training: Ensuring Operational Dominance
1-4 December 2025
Orlando, FL

One more thing...

The USS F-1's wreck, seen in a photogrammetric reconstruction drawn from several photos taken of it. Image by Zoe Daheron, ©Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution

Expedition captures the first ever images of the wreck of a World War I submarine
Nicholas Slayton, Task & Purpose

A recent deep-sea expedition has successfully captured the first detailed images and video of the USS F-1, a World War I U.S. Navy submarine that sank after a collision in 1917 off California, providing an unprecedented look at the "relatively intact" wreck located nearly 400 meters below the surface.

• Historic Visit: While the wreck was initially located by sonar in 1975 during a search for a downed aircraft and noted as intact, this recent effort represents the first time archaeologists have physically visited the site to conduct extensive photography and filming, providing the most detailed look yet.
• Early Sub: Commissioned in 1912 (originally USS Carp), the 143-foot USS F-1 served as part of the Pacific Torpedo Flotilla. It operated during a period of significant challenges for early submarines, notably holding a world record for deep diving (86 meters) despite experiencing issues earlier in its service.
• Collision Tragedy: The F-1 was lost on December 17, 1917, during a maneuver exercise off San Diego when it collided with the USS F-3. The impact breached the F-1, causing it to flood and sink rapidly within seconds. The accident resulted in the loss of 19 out of its 24 crew members.

Maureen Lauder, PhD, Communications Manager
Karey Shaffer, MBA, Program Manager
Acquisition Research Program
Naval Postgraduate School
e: ARPEditor@nps.edu 

Note: Article summaries were generated with the help of AI tools.

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Acquisition Research Program Newsletter

May 23, 2025       —       Issue 240

Happy Friday!

This week, we're pleased to release a recording of a fireside chat with DIU Director Doug Beck and NPS President Ann Rondeau, held two weeks ago at "Creating Synergy for Informed Change: Transitioning Technology to the Warfighter," NPS' 22nd Annual Acquisition Research Symposium and Innovation Summit. Video now available here.

Mr. Beck and President Rondeau covered a wide range of topics -- but a recurring theme was the importance of building bridges between DOD, the forces, academia, and industry.

It's a timely conversation, as evidenced by news coverage of DIU this week, which includes:

> An AI-driven program to connect innovators with DOD technology needs...

> Scaling the Blue UAS program which helps get vetted drone technology more quickly into the warfighters' hands...

> And employing AI to unite budgeting and program management, so users can see accurate, comprehensive data across programs with a click of a button.

All that and much more, down below. Enjoy!

This Week's Top Stories 

U.S. Air Force Airman 1st Class Ethan Conde, 42nd Communication Squadron client system technician types on his computer at Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama, Feb.19, 2025. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Elizabeth Figueroa.)

Large Language Matchmaker: DIU tests AI to automatically bring innovators, agencies together
Sydney J. Freedberg Jr., Breaking Defense

The Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) is developing the Digital OnRamp, an AI matchmaker to connect high-tech innovators with specific technology needs within the DOD.

• Scalability & Efficiency: The platform is designed to operate at scale digitally. LLMs are helpful here because they can process unstructured data like white papers or casual chats to find patterns.
• Demonstrated Potential: A test run in December involved dozens of companies and DoD organizations, processing thousands of surveys and queries, and resulted in at least one actual contract being signed between matched parties.

SBIR/STTR awards remain vulnerable to foreign influence
Jason Miller, Federal News Network

New data collected by Senator Joni Ernst reveals that federal agencies are inconsistent in their oversight of Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) awards, leaving them vulnerable to foreign influence, particularly from adversaries like China.

• DoD Vulnerability: Several companies among the largest DoD SBIR/STTR awardees from 2010-2023, identified as "SBIR mills," have problematic relationships with foreign adversaries and received nearly $180 million in 2023 and 2024.
• Full Report: Critical American Technology Vulnerable to China

NPS seeks to balance open, classified research
Jason Miller, Federal News Network

The Naval Postgraduate School (NPS) is preparing to launch a new Naval Innovation Center designed to bridge the gap between open academic research and classified defense needs.

• Bridging Gap: The center is intended to connect the often-separate worlds of open, academic research and the more secretive, classified defense environment. The goal is to enable the exchange of ideas and the application of knowledge across this divide and accelerate the maturation of innovative concepts for the Navy.
• Unique Location: Being co-located at NPS leverages the institution's unique student body of experienced officers returning from the fleet, as well as its world-class faculty. This environment allows problems identified in service to be addressed by those with practical understanding and experience of the issues.
• Collaborative Hub: The center is designed to host a diverse group of participants, including students, faculty, industry partners, other academic institutions, and even allies. This requires infrastructure capable of supporting various levels of access and collaboration.

ARP and NPS News

Behind the Scenes: Creating the NPS 22nd Annual Acquisition Research Symposium & Innovation Summit

Over 1,200 attendees joined us virtually for "Creating Synergy for Informed Change: Transitioning Technology to the Warfighter," setting a record for the highest-ever attendance at this annual gathering.

For over two decades, the Acquisition Research Program (ARP) has executed the symposium which has lured hundreds of participants from around the country to Monterey for two days of mission-focused conversations about how the Department of Defense procures, develops, and delivers capability to the warfighter.

This year the ARP team transformed the symposium – as well as this year’s first ever innovation summit – into a virtual event that vastly increased the reach and impact of this important conversation.

Watch this short two-minute video for a glimpse of what it looked like behind the scenes.

Acquisition Research Symposium and Innovation Summit Addresses Rapid Tech Integration for the Warfighter
Lt. Cmdr. Kristina M. Wiedemann, NPS Public Affairs

As the Department of Defense grapples with the pressing challenge of accelerating the transition of technology to the warfighter, our recent Acquisition Research Symposium and Innovation Summit highlighted NPS's unique role in shaping tomorrow's acquisition landscape.

• Educating Leaders: NPS plays a crucial role in preparing the next generation of acquisition leaders with the education needed to navigate and lead in this rapidly changing environment. Its curriculum integrates academic rigor with practical experience, equipping students with the tools to solve real-world challenges.
• Influencing Policy: Through its commitment to rigorous research combined with practical implementation, NPS provides actionable insights that directly influence policy.
• Fostering Collaboration: NPS supports essential partnerships between the DoD, industry, and academia. These collaborations are key to leveraging cutting-edge innovations from the private sector while ensuring they meet military standards.

Fireside Chat with Doug Beck & Ann Rondeau - NPS 22nd Annual Acquisition Research Symposium & Innovation Summit

DIU's Doug Beck joined NPS President Ann Rondeau for a fireside chat on the next stage of DIU's development.

The conversation took place on the second day of "Creating Synergy for Informed Change: Transitioning Technology to the Warfighter," the NPS 22nd Annual Acquisition Research Symposium and Innovation Summit.

Mr. Beck shared how DIU has built bridges to industry and proven the efficacy of Commercial Solutions Openings (CSO) ability to move quickly from proposal to prototype.

Now, DIU has shifted focus to leveraging the services as engine for scaling technology.

Some insights and highlights from the conversation:

• DIU stays tuned into warfighter needs by embedding staff with the combatant commands. They also share dual-hatted employees across different units, allowing them to access additional expertise and insight.
• To accelerate tech development and transition, DOD needs a pool of talent who have experience and fluency in multiples spheres. These professionals need to speak the language of warfighters and the tech sector.
• DOD needs to be prepared to take the right risks -- process, financial, reputational -- to avoid adding more risk to the forces, the mission, or national security.
• Flexible funding has transformed DIU's relationship with the forces, as the unit can help shepherd an innovation from idea through to fielding. Beck emphasizes that this flexible funding is contingent on trust from Congress and transparency from DUI.
• NPS's track record developing technical talent -- plus its ties to Silicon Valley -- make it an ideal incubator for acquisition and innovation professionals who can work effectively with industry. DIU and NPS have an existing MOU and have already partnered on several initiatives. Both Mr. Beck and President Rondeau are eager to expand their partnership to include a focus on talent development.

Watch the full video of their conversation here.

15 DDM Graduates Selected for Promotion to Captain

Twenty-six members of the Navy Supply Corps have just been selected for promotion to captain -- and 15 of them are graduates of the Department of Defense Management (DDM) at the Naval Postgraduate School.

Congratulations to these hard-working Captain-Selects:

- Michael Jason Collins
- Ryan R. Stickel
- Andre Lamont Fields
- Raymond Joseph Lanclos
- Matthew Brandon Reed
- Brown Lamont Armond
- Jacob Matthew Prentiss
- Matthew Elliott Duncan
- Matthew Lewis Miller
- Christopher Scott Burt
- Quentin Eugene Lease
- Jan Douglas Schotman
- Melissa Anne Gonzales
- Melissa Shannon Flynn
- Joshua Ryan Harding

NPS' Department of Defense Management develops leaders with the education, research, and operational experience to innovate design, development, and delivery of advanced capabilities to the field. For more information, visit the DDM website.

Acquisition

Photo by Peter Conrad via Unsplash

It will take more than a new policy to get certified SBOMs
Jason Miller, Federal News Network

A new effort from Department of Defense PTDO CIO Katie Arrington -- which we covered in last week's newsletter -- to speed up software procurement requires contractors to provide a certified Software Bill of Materials (SBOM). While intended to increase visibility and enhance security, the requirement for independent third-party certification presents significant challenges due to a lack of established standards and certifying bodies.

• Visibility Power: Despite challenges, SBOMs are valuable for creating a software inventory, allowing the government to react to major vulnerabilities, which currently cannot be fully located across federal networks.

Panama City contracting officer impacts littoral, mine systems warfighting readiness
Jeremy Roman, NSWC PCD Public Affairs

NPS Contract Management alumna Anna Belle Tiller was recently awarded the Navy Civilian Service Achievement Medal. A contracting officer at the Naval Surface Warfare Center Panama City Division (NSWC PCD), Tiller has produced nearly $80 million in cost savings via her contract management skills. Her work helps the Navy achieve dominance in littoral warfare, particularly in subsea and seabed missions.

Inside GSA’s AI strategy: Using the tech while learning how to buy it
Nick Wakeman, NextGov

The General Services Administration (GSA) is adopting a two-pronged approach to artificial intelligence, simultaneously using the technology internally while developing frameworks for government-wide acquisition of AI solutions for other agencies.

• Acquisition Models: Two acquisition models are emerging for AI: subscription-based services (like cloud computing) and token-based models for on-demand access.
• Pricing Challenge: A key difficulty for contracting officers is identifying price reasonableness for AI solutions, as the market is still developing.

Textron’s Shadow RQ-7B V2 Block III (Courtesy of Textron)

DIU shakes up Blue UAS process, enlisting third-party vendors for compliance checks
Carley Welch, Breaking Defense

The Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) is implementing a significant change to its Blue UAS program, aiming to accelerate the deployment of commercial drones by allowing manufacturers to seek compliance verification through independent third-party vendors rather than relying solely on DIU's internal process.

The new intellectual property guidebook from DoD is important but likely not your next beach read
Terry Gerton, Federal News Network

A new, long-awaited Intellectual Property Guidebook from the DOD aims to equip acquisition professionals with the knowledge and tools needed to navigate complex IP challenges throughout the acquisition lifecycle.

• Balanced Strategy: A new "balanced approach" recognizes the advantages of buying commercial products while managing DOD's unique need for IP rights that enable long program life cycles, maintenance, sustainment, upgrades, and re-procurement.

Innovation

Photo by Immo Wegmann via Unsplash

The Defense Innovation Unit takes on a really tough problem
Terry Gerton, Federal News Network

The Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) is piloting a new system using artificial intelligence to modernize its internal budget and program management processes, aiming to overcome challenges with disparate systems and manual data entry to improve efficiency, accuracy, and transparency.

• Comprehensive Insight: "It’s finding these budgets, being able to obligate against them and create awards and invoices. And then to hit milestones, track against those, and execute against a project. Today, that [capability is] living across all these manual, disparate systems, living in the incredible people at DIU and their DoD partners’ minds."
• Connected Processes: The goal is to create a "connected digital thread" that links typically distinct budget planning and program management processes across their lifecycle.
• Scaling Potential: DIU intends for this pilot project to prove a successful model that can be adopted and scaled across the entire DoD, potentially informing changes in policy and operations related to PPBE.

Congress and Government

The U.S. Capitol building at dusk as vehicles travel on Pennsylvania Avenue on November 05, 2023 in Washington DC. (Photo by Kevin Carter/Getty Images)

Lawmakers introduce bipartisan bill to promote competition in DOD cloud and AI procurement
Jon Harper, DefenseScoop

A bipartisan, bicameral group of lawmakers has introduced the Protecting AI and Cloud Competition in Defense Act of 2025, a bill aimed at boosting competition in Defense Department AI and cloud contracts and protecting government data.

• Congressional Oversight: If enacted, the bill would require annual reports to congressional defense committees, assessing competition, innovation, barriers to entry, and concentrations of market power in the AI space.

CSIS Congressional Panel Calls for Changes in Defense Acquisition
John Grady, USNI News

During a panel discussion, members of Congress highlighted the need to modernize the Pentagon's acquisition process, criticizing the current system as outdated and too slow compared to potential adversaries.

• Budget Hurdles: Reliance on continuing resolutions was identified as detrimental to an investment strategy. Sen. Mark Kelly argued that reconciliation was not a way to "juice" DOD spending and advocated for a "regular order" to align spending with current and future needs.
• Early Testing: Funding for testing new systems early in the process was stressed as vital, noting that testing is currently "typically starved of resources and now is facing cuts".
• Rapid Iteration: The panel highlighted the need to learn from adversaries and allies who can "iterate on a very rapid cycle, days, weeks [not years like the United States]".

Research

Defense Contract Audit Agency: Formal Assessment Needed to Determine Future Use of Independent Public Accountants
Government Accountability Office

The U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) reviewed the Defense Contract Audit Agency's (DCAA) use of independent public accountants (IPAs) to help with contract audits, finding that while their use has freed up DCAA auditors for higher-risk tasks, DCAA lacks a formal plan for their future use and hasn't communicated one to Congress.

Events

ai+ expo
2-4 June 2025
Washington DC

Spring 2025 Naval AI Summit
10-14 June 2025
Virtual

AI Acquisition Bootcamp
11 June 2025
Virtual

DLA Supply Chain Alliance Conference & Exhibition
11-12 June 2025
Richmond, VA

Training & Simulation Industry Symposium (TSIS) 2025
17-18 June 2025
Orlando, FL

MTO Spark Tank
24-25 July 2025
Aurora, CO

MODSIM World 2025
18-20 August 2025
Norfolk, VA

2025 Emerging Technologies for Defense
27-29 August 2025
Washington, DC

I/ITSEC 2025: Optimizing Training: Ensuring Operational Dominance
1-4 December 2025
Orlando, FL

One more thing...

A picture of the USS Saginaw, the first of a long line of ships built at the Mare Island Navy Yard in the San Francisco area. (Naval History and Heritage Command)

Navy subs and nuclear secrets: The riveting history of California’s Mare Island
John Metcalfe, Stars and Stripes

Mare Island, a historic U.S. Navy shipbuilding and maintenance facility near San Francisco, played a vital and often secret role in national defense from the Civil War until its decommissioning in the 1990s. Despite its operational closure, it remains a place of historical significance and has transitioned into a mixed-use site combining historical landmarks with modern commercial and recreational activities.

• Naval Powerhouse: From the Civil War through the 1990s, Mare Island was a major shipbuilding and overhaul facility. It supported the Navy through both world wars, building over 500 vessels including numerous landing crafts during World War II and becoming one of only two public shipyards to build nuclear submarines during the Cold War.
• Atomic Secrets: Mare Island played a role in the atomic age, reportedly secretly receiving parts for the nuclear bomb that was eventually dropped on Japan, leading to the end of World War II.
• Cold War Espionage: Hosted the highly classified "Ivy Bells" mission, which involved using submarines and saturation divers to tap into Soviet undersea telephone lines in the Sea of Okhotsk. The tapes were reportedly swapped at Mare Island before analysis in D.C., with the program credited for helping end the Cold War.
• Global Tree Collection: The island hosts a remarkably biodiverse collection of trees from around the world. This diversity originated from Commodore James Alden, who, in the late 1800s, who asked ship captains to collect and send back saplings from their travels.
• Historic Landmarks: Visitors can explore the oldest standing Navy chapel in the U.S., St. Peter's Chapel, known for its Tiffany stained-glass windows and plaques made from salvaged ship metal.

Maureen Lauder, PhD, Communications Manager
Karey Shaffer, MBA, Program Manager
Acquisition Research Program
Naval Postgraduate School
e: ARPEditor@nps.edu 

Note: Article summaries were generated with the help of AI tools.

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NEED TO KNOW

Acquisition Research Program Newsletter

May 16, 2025       —       Issue 239

Dr. Robert Mortlock, Principal Investigator & Chair of the Acquisition Research Program, gives the opening remarks at the 22nd Annual Research Symposium and Innovation Summit. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Janiel Adames)

The ARP and NPS teams are still recovering from -- and reveling in -- the great success of last week's symposium, "Creating Synergy for Informed Change: Transitioning Technology to the Warfighter." We were blown away by the attendance, which topped 1,214 virtual participants and almost tripled the number of attendees that usually join us in person in Monterey.

Every panel brought new insights about where DOD stands in its efforts to revolutionize the work of acquisition and its impact on the mission-essential task of more quickly transitioning technology to the warfighter.

As NPS professor and ARP chair Bob Mortlock said during his opening remarks, "Using research to inform policy change IS innovative."

Here are some of the recurring themes that appeared in talks by leadership and in the research presented in the panels:

• How to balance risk versus speed -- and the keen awareness that de-risking the acquisition process often increases strategic and mission risk.
• DOD's acquisition culture -- and how to give the acquisition workforce the education, incentives, and the top cover to take risks and fail faster in service of innovation and speed.
• Misalignment of industry and DOD incentives, and the need for clear communication from DOD in both words and action.
• How to leverage existing acquisition pathways -- particularly the Software Acquisition Pathway and the Middle Tier -- to bring in more non-traditional suppliers, support faster learning and iteration, focus on the most promising technology, and accelerate the move from prototype to program of record.
• How to ensure that DOD is delivering capability that the forces need and can use, by facilitating early and frequent feedback and input into new capabilities from the combatant commands.
• Exciting updates from current NPS students and recent graduates on how their work has expedited the development and fielding of new technologies, including high-power laser beams and guided missiles

This is our 22nd year hosting the Research Symposium, and we've been privileged to witness the ripple effects of the ideas that are exchanged during the event. David Berteau, President and CEO of the Professional Services Council and longtime friend to the Acquisition Research Program, summed it up like so:

“I’ve seen both the impact of the conversations and the presentations that are done here, and I’ve also seen the evolution of the participants and the attendees. Folks who were O-3s and O-4s when we did the first one back in the mid-aughts are now flag and general officers who are shaping today and the future of DOD procurement and acquisition.”

The discussions that took place last week are part of ongoing conversations being held throughout DOD and the government -- as is evident in this week's news coverage, which features:

• DOD leaders "blowing up" the processes that slow innovation
• A warning about a renewed risk of industry consolidation
• An examination of why and how to treat the combatant commands as customers
• An “Anything-as-a-Service” pilot program from the Pentagon, implementing a recommendation from the Section 809 panel
• A review of the Software Acquisition Pathway -- including what it solves for and where it introduces new risks

All that below -- plus the first of many videos from the Symposium and Innovation Summit: A keynote address from Mr. Steven Morani covering the rapidly changing acquisition landscape and how USD(A&S) is implementing recent DOD direction and executive orders, 27 of which are A&S equities. Watch the video here.

Enjoy!

P.S. You can find all the papers and presentations on our Symposium website.

This Week's Top Stories 

An aerial view of the Pentagon, Washington, D.C., May 15, 2023. (DoD photo by U.S. Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class Alexander Kubitza)

Pentagon moves to implement ‘Anything-as-a-Service’ pilot program
Jon Harper, DefenseScoop

The Pentagon is moving forward with implementing an “Anything-as-a-Service” pilot program, as directed by Congress, to explore "consumption-based" contracting for technology-supported capabilities. This effort aims to measure the cost and speed of delivery compared to other acquisition methods.

The Revolutionary FAR Overhaul: A First Step
Christopher Yukins, Public Procurement International

The Trump administration has rolled out the tranche of the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR), part of the "Revolutionary FAR Overhaul" called for by Executive Order.

• Streamlining Focus: A primary goal is to simplify the FAR, removing regulations not required by statute or deemed otherwise essential, often replacing them with "buying guides" under the umbrella term "Strategic Acquisition Guidance".
• Automatic Expiry: A controversial "sunset" requirement dictates that non-statutory FAR sections must expire four years after becoming effective unless explicitly renewed by the FAR Council.
• Specific Changes: Initial proposals involve deleting the FAR's vision statement and rulemaking process (Part 1) and removing the subpart requiring full and open competition for major systems acquisitions (Part 34).
• Resource: Tracking the Trump Administration’s Actions Impacting the U.S. Federal Procurement System

Another Last Supper and a New Era of Defense Giants
Nicholas Hooper, War on the Rocks

Despite claims of supporting small businesses and innovation, the defense industry is undergoing a new wave of consolidation mirroring the post-Cold War "last supper," creating a landscape where large entities.

• New Giants: The current trend bolsters a new class of giants, including former disruptors like Palantir, despite policies claiming to lower barriers for small businesses.
• Same Playbook: Today's technology-focused defense companies are following the same consolidation playbook through acquisitions used by the primes they claim to challenge, aiming to capture new market segments.
• Integrated Warfare: Consolidation is partly driven by the military's doctrinal shift towards integrated, multi-domain operations, necessitating companies that can provide comprehensive, integrated solutions.

A proposal to reorganize the entire Defense Department — all of it, all at once
Terry Gerton, Federal News Network

A new proposal suggests a comprehensive top-to-bottom reorganization of the entire Department of Defense. This effort presents three distinct options to address the department's "sclerotic," additive change processes and realign its core components like the Office of the Secretary of Defense, military departments, services, and combatant commands.

• Fundamental Rethink: The proposal stems from the belief that the current structure, dating back to post-WWII reforms and later changes in 1986, is outdated given today's threats and technologies
• Urgency Factor: The push for change is underscored by a belief that the risk of moving too slowly far outweighs the risk of moving fast, especially given potential timelines for future conflicts.
• Political Window: There is a perceived opportunity for alignment among Congress (citing potential in the Defense reconciliation bill and 2026 NDAA), the administration, and military leadership to enact changes.

ARP and NPS News

Mr. Steven Morani Keynote Address - NPS Acquisition Research Symposium and Innovation Summit

“We don't need radical reform. We need a change in culture and behavior that makes speed and precision a top priority.”

That was a key message in today's keynote address from Steven J. Morani in the opening session of “Creating Synergy for Informed Change: Transitioning Technology to the Warfighter," the NPS 22nd Annual Research Symposium and Innovation Summit.

In his prepared remarks, Mr. Morani, Performing Duties of Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment (USD(A&S)), detailed the rapidly changing acquisition landscape and how USD(A&S) is implementing recent DOD direction and the 27 executive orders that are A&S equities.

Noting that recent executive orders and DOD directives lean toward standardizing and expanding the use of existing acquisition authorities and processes, Mr. Morani emphasized the importance of developing an acquisitions culture that recognizes and rewards an orientation toward speed and decisiveness, rather than process and procedure.

"We have the tools and frameworks, but we need to work with them differently, train and reward people to be more decisive, move faster, take more risk."

Mr. Morani called out the strategic importance of acquisition to national security, highlighting the deterrent effects of logistics and sustainment and praising the current administration's push to field needed capability at scale and at a good cost.

"We need to take advantage of this chance to make big changes," says Mr. Morani. "We have top-down leadership support for this from the President, the Secretary of Defense, and the leadership in building."

Watch Mr. Morani's full address here.

Trump administration picks new DARPA director
Jon Harper, DefenseScoop

NPS alumnus Stephen Winchell has been appointed to lead the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA). Winchell most recently served as the AI and autonomy portfolio leader at the Pentagon's Strategic Capabilities Office. He holds multiple advanced degrees, including an M.S. in applied physics from the U.S. Naval Postgraduate School.

NPS Helps Joint Chiefs Develop Integrated Military, Economic Deterrence Options to Chinese Aggression
Matthew Schehl, NPS Public Affairs

The Naval Postgraduate School (NPS), in collaboration with various experts, conducted a four-year study for the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) to develop quantifiable integrated military and economic options to deter a notional Chinese aggression scenario against Taiwan.

• Informing Leaders: Briefings on the study's results have informed key decisions regarding posture initiatives for INDOPACOM and a study on the Navy's future fleet design for OPNAV N7.
• Receiving Recognition: Several NPS experts involved in the research were presented the Navy Civilian Service Commendation Medal by senior INDOPACOM officials.

Acquisition

Adm. Samuel J. Paparo, commander of U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, and Gen. Romeo S. Brawner Jr., Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, participate in an honors ceremony at Camp Aguinaldo during a visit to Manila, Philippines, Feb. 21, 2025. (U.S. Navy photo by Chief Mass Communication Specialist Shannon M. Smith)

Combatant Commands as Customers?
Justin Johnson, War on the Rocks

This analysis argues that the Department of Defense operates too much like a centrally-planned economy, leading to slow technology development and acquisition. To accelerate the delivery of capabilities to warfighters, the author proposes decentralizing decision-making and empowering combatant commands to act more like customers.

• Empower Customers: Combatant Commands are the joint warfighters and should be empowered as the true customers, enabling them to send valuable signals to producers (services, agencies, companies) based on operational needs.
• Move COCOM Budgets: Combatant Command budgets should be moved out of the military services' accounts and into defense-wide accounts to increase independence and transparency.
• Related research: Providing Acquisition Authority to Combatant Commands in the DoD
   

Overcoming Acquisition Obstacles for the Rapid Transition of a New Warfighting Capability
Dean R. Evans, Defense Acquisition Magazine

A focused prototyping campaign successfully developed and tested a new palletized weapon system for cargo aircraft in under 24 months, demonstrating an unconventional "out-of-the-box" approach to overcome traditional defense acquisition obstacles and rapidly deliver a vital capability.

• Acquisition Bypass: A critical factor was executing the effort before the formal acquisition timeline began, allowing work to start immediately instead of waiting years for the typical POM cycle.
• Early Integration: An Integrated Product Team (IPT) with early involvement from MAJCOMs, testers, program offices, and airworthiness authorities helped streamline approvals and incorporated vital feedback before final design.
• Senior Leader Support: Success relied on leadership championing speed and accepting temporary failures and greater risks, using year-of-execution funding to enable immediate action.
• Warfighter Focus: The process constantly looked through the lens of the warfighter and ensured a seamless hand-off, delivering a capability multiple stages ahead of where a normal program would be.

MITRE Survey Highlights Persistent Challenges and Emerging Opportunities in Defense Acquisition
MITRE

A recent MITRE survey highlights that the complexity and inflexibility of defense acquisition processes remain significant hurdles, particularly for smaller businesses, hindering the rapid delivery of capabilities needed by warfighters.

• SMB Views: Small- and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) express a distinct perspective, perceiving lower resource efficiency, slower delivery speeds, and diminished confidence in acquisition effectiveness compared to other groups.
• Softened Perceptions: While the Adaptive Acquisition Framework has somewhat softened extreme negative views since 2020, it hasn't dramatically changed overall feelings about participating.
• Full Report: Barriers in Defense Acquisition

Meeting the Software Challenge: Acquisition Reform Brings Its Own Complications
Shaun Waterman, Air & Space Forces

The Software Acquisition Pathway is designed to speed up the process of buying and deploying software from the private sector. While proponents believe it allows the military to access innovative technology more quickly, critics raise concerns about the potential for reduced oversight and increased waste due to the loosened regulations.

• Speed Metric Doubts: Speed is considered a "dangerous" metric by some, arguing it doesn't guarantee usability or effectiveness under fire, unlike metrics like user adoption and resilience.
• Workforce Needs: The workforce requires "trilingual" expertise, understanding acquisition tools, warfighter needs, and fundamentally being able to "speak software" to ask the right technical questions.
• Beyond Acquisition: Fundamental problems lie outside acquisition, including the need to heavily modify commercial software for DOD networks (creating technical debt) and restrictions on using modern development tools on military networks.
• Part 1 of this Series: Meeting the Software Challenge: How the Air Force Is Embracing New Acquisition Rules
• Part 2 of this Series: Meeting the Software Challenge: How the New Acquisition Pathway Came to Be

Innovation

U.S. Army Special Forces Soldier with 7th Special Forces Group (Airborne) aims a mortar during maritime operations (MAROPS) training on Eglin Air Force Base, Florida. March 14, 2024. (U.S. Army photos by Sgt. Taylor Zacherl)

Cut the Chaff–Acquisition Revolution at SOCOM
Chad Williamson, Real Clear Defense

Under Acquisition Executive Melissa Johnson, SOCOM is revolutionizing defense acquisition to keep pace with rapid commercial innovation and the demands of irregular warfare.

• Cut Chaff: The core philosophy is to ruthlessly eliminate bureaucracy, layered paperwork, and misaligned incentives that slow down defense acquisition.
• Warfighter Centered: The focus shifts from rigid requirements lists to understanding the "day in the life" of the operator and co-creating solutions that truly work.
• Empowered Decisions: SOCOM's decentralized structure allows Program Executive Officers (PEOs) to make over 90% of portfolio decisions, with leadership focusing on removing roadblocks.
• First Mover: SOCOM positions itself as a "first mover" for adopting promising technologies that the larger military services can potentially scale later.

How a key Pentagon tech leader plans on ‘blowing up’ outdated software risk framework
Carley Welch, Breaking Defense

Under the direction of acting DoD CIO Katie Arrington, the Pentagon is launching the Software Fast Track (SWFT) program, aiming to radically streamline and speed up software acquisition by replacing outdated approval processes like the Risk Management Framework (RMF) and standard Authority to Operate (ATO) approvals.

• Cost Savings: Arrington argues SWFT will save companies money by replacing costly ATO processes (upwards of half a million dollars) with less expensive assessments and third-party certified software bills of materials (SBOM). It will also save the DoD hundreds of millions spent on evaluating ATOs.
• RFI: RFI for DoD CIO for SWFT Tools

Research

Workers observe a propeller installation for USS Nimitz at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard and Intermediate Maintenance Facility in Bremerton, Washington, October 16, 2018. Photo by Brian Kilpatrick/U.S. Navy

Why the United States, South Korea, and Japan Must Cooperate on Shipbuilding
Miyeon Oh and Michael Cecire, RAND

The authors propose a maritime alliance with South Korea and Japan, two leading shipbuilding nations, emphasizing that their industrial capacity and expertise are crucial for revitalizing U.S. maritime power through methods like joint production and investment.

Innovators and transformers: Envisioning a revolution in middle mile logistics with extended range cargo drones
Clinton T. Purtell, Ila Manuj, Terrance L. Pohlen, Vipul Garg, Jamie Porchia, Michael James Hill, International Journal of Physical Distribution & Logistics Management

This study -- co-authored by Jamie Porchia, Assistant Professor in the Department of Defense Management at NPS -- investigates the integration of middle mile drones (MMD) into logistics operations, identifying potential advantages but emphasizing the significant challenges that must be overcome for successful, widespread implementation.

Events

ai+ expo
2-4 June 2025
Washington DC

DLA Supply Chain Alliance Conference & Exhibition
11-12 June 2025
Richmond, VA

Training & Simulation Industry Symposium (TSIS) 2025
17-18 June 2025
Orlando, FL

MTO Spark Tank
24-25 July 2025
Aurora, CO

MODSIM World 2025
18-20 August 2025
Norfolk, VA

2025 Emerging Technologies for Defense
27-29 August 2025
Washington, DC

I/ITSEC 2025: Optimizing Training: Ensuring Operational Dominance
1-4 December 2025
Orlando, FL

One more thing...

An F/A-18 Super Hornet from Strike Fighter Squadron 213 lands aboard the USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN-78) (Photo by Justin Katz/Breaking Defense.)

Aboard the Ford: What it’s like on a US Navy aircraft carrier preparing for deployment
Justin Katz, Breaking Defense

A visit aboard the USS Gerald R. Ford aircraft carrier during its Composite Unit Training Exercise (COMPTUEX), a crucial rehearsal for the crew to build synchronicity before deployment.

• High-tech Carrier: The USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN-78) is identified as the US Navy’s newest and most technologically advanced operational aircraft carrier. It incorporates technology like electromagnetic catapults and arresting gear for launching and recovering aircraft.
• Evolving Training: Recent Navy experiences, such as fending off Houthi missile and drone threats, have directly influenced changes in the COMPTUEX training regimen. Sailors are now practicing extensively against unmanned aircraft, recognizing them as a significant, hard-to-find threat.
• Ship Reconfiguration: In a "fleet first" and "wave of the future" change, an Arleigh Burke-class destroyer, the USS Winston S. Churchill (DDG-81), is taking on the significant role of air and missile defense commander, a task traditionally assigned to cruisers which the Navy is retiring. This requires adjustments and reconfiguration of the destroyer's combat center.

Maureen Lauder, PhD, Communications Manager
Karey Shaffer, MBA, Program Manager
Acquisition Research Program
Naval Postgraduate School
e: ARPEditor@nps.edu 

Note: Article summaries were generated with the help of AI tools.

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NEED TO KNOW

Acquisition Research Program Newsletter

April 11, 2025       —       Issue 238

Creating Synergy for Change: Transitioning Technology to the Warfighter
NPS 22nd Annual Acquisition Research Symposium
and Innovation Summit
May 7-8, 2025 | 0800 - 1600 Central Time

The urgency around acquisition reform is higher than ever -- and the field is evolving rapidly.

That's why our Research Symposium and Innovation Summit brings together scholars, policymakers, military and industry leaders, practitioners, and students with deep expertise and practical experience in bringing new

This year, we are pleased to feature a plenary session of senior MILDEP leaders titled "Innovating Defense: A Roundtable on Navy and Army Acquisition."

The session is chaired by Michael Williamson, LtGen, USA (ret.), President, Lockheed Martin International. Mr. Williamson joined Lockheed Martin in 2017 following a distinguished career as a lieutenant general with the U.S. Army. He served as the principal military deputy to the assistant secretary of the Army for Acquisition, Logistics and Technology and director of Acquisition Career Management.

Mr. Williamson will lead a discussion on the progress, challenges, priorities, and future plans to realize the Navy and Army vision for acquisition modernization. Session participants include:

• Lt Gen Robert Collins, USA, Principal Military Deputy to the Assistant Secretary of the Army (ALT). Lt Gen Collins previously served as the Deputy for Acquisition and Systems Management.
• VADM Johnny Wolfe Jr., USN, Director for Strategic Systems Programs. Vice Admiral Wolfe assumed duties as director of SSP in 2018, after serving much of his career in various positions at SSP. Wolfe is dual hatted as Echelon I director for Naval Nuclear Weapons Oversight Program (CNO N00NW).
• RADM Kurt J. Rothenhaus, USN, Chief of Naval Research. Rear Admiral Rothenhaus assumed command of the Office of Naval Research in June 2023. Prior to that, he served as Program Executive Officer, Command Control Computers Communications and Intelligence (PEO C4I). 

We are excited to welcome these distinguished leaders to this year's Research Symposium and Innovation Summit, and we look forward to hearing their insights on speeding and scaling the delivery of unmatched capability to the warfighter.

The plenary session will take place on Thursday, May 8, from 0915 to 1015, Central Time.

This Week's Top Stories 

Photo by Suzy Brooks on Unsplash

Trump order threatens cancellation for over-budget, delayed Pentagon programs
Valerie Insinna, Breaking Defense

President Donald Trump signed an executive order directing the Pentagon to review major defense acquisition programs, aiming to accelerate and improve the efficiency of the weapons buying process.

• Cancellation Criteria: Programs exceeding budget or schedule by more than 15%, failing key performance parameters, or misaligned with the Secretary of Defense’s priorities will be considered for cancellation.
• Lower Threshold Set: This 15% threshold for review is significantly lower than the typical 50% "Nunn-McCurdy breach" that usually triggers program scrutiny.
• Review Leadership: Deputy Defense Secretary Stephen Feinberg will lead the review, coordinating with service secretaries and the Pentagon’s undersecretary for acquisition and sustainment, under the direction of Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.
• Acquisition Reform Plan: Within 60 days, the Secretary of Defense must submit a plan to prioritize commercial technologies, streamline processes, and foster innovation. The reform plan should emphasize the use of Other Transactions Authority and Rapid Capabilities Office policies.
• Executive Order: Modernizing Defense Acquisitions and Spurring Innovation in the Defense Industrial Base

Move fast, kill things: the tech startups trying to reinvent defence with Silicon Valley values
Zoë Corbyn, The Guardian

Venture capital-backed tech startups are increasingly entering the defense sector, driven by Silicon Valley values of rapid innovation and aiming to disrupt traditional military procurement with advanced technologies like AI and autonomous systems.

• Challenging the Primes: These startups aim to outperform traditional defense giants (Lockheed Martin, Boeing, RTX) in delivering agile and innovative solutions.
• Faster, Cheaper Tech: Startups promise "smarter, faster and cheaper" defense technologies with rapid iteration cycles.
• Concerns Raised: Critics worry about the rapid development potentially leading to unreliable and prematurely deployed technologies, and an increased propensity for using them in conflict.

VIEWPOINT: Defense Industrial Base Sector Won’t Surge Without Policy Changes
Lt. Col. Sandra R. Thomas, National Defense

The US defense industrial base is currently facing significant challenges, transitioning from a post-Cold War state of perceived overcapacity to one now considered too small to handle potential surges in demand.

• Policy Root Cause: The defense industrial base's current struggles, including its inability to surge, material shortfalls, and challenges in co-investment and deterrence, are fundamentally rooted in policy misalignments and a lack of updated strategic guidance.
• Policy Void: The National Defense Industrial Strategy Implementation Plan, published in October 2024, features problem sets and implementation initiatives that require policy-focused solutions. But agencies do not have clearly defined responsibilities for industrial mobilization, and there is no single political office with complete ownership of the issue.

A aerial view of Ingalls Shipbuilding in Pascagoula, Mississippi. (Derek Fountain/Huntington Ingalls Industries)

Top US, South Korean shipbuilders partner to bolster vessel production
Zita Fletcher, Defense News

A significant partnership between the largest US naval shipbuilder, HII, and South Korea's HD Hyundai Heavy Industries aims to bolster shipbuilding for both military and commercial purposes, marking a new step in naval collaboration between the two nations.

• High Capacity: Hyundai Heavy Industries boasts 10% of the global shipbuilding market. The company believes it could build up to five ships per year with full maritime defense cooperation with the U.S., with potential for further expansion.

Feinberg initiates Pentagon’s implementation of DOGE-influenced regulatory review
Brandi Vincent, DefenseScoop

Deputy Secretary of Defense Stephen Feinberg has initiated the Pentagon's implementation of President Trump's executive order, influenced by the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), to review and potentially eliminate a wide range of existing regulations within the Department of Defense. This effort aims to cut red tape, reduce bureaucracy, and streamline operations in areas such as intelligence, information technology, and weapons acquisition.

• CMMC Review: Regulations related to the Pentagon CIO’s Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) program are among the hundreds of rules up for review as part of this DOGE-influenced initiative.

Let’s Put the ‘Tech’ into Military Technology Policy
Victoria Coleman and H.S. Philip Wong, Air & Space Forces Magazine

Maintaining technological superiority requires a paradigm shift in US military technology policy. To effectively compete with global rivals who are actively nurturing new technology development, the US government must make a long-term commitment to creating a favorable ecosystem for the invention, manufacturing, and scaling of new technologies -- particularly in strategically important sectors like semiconductors.

• Market's Short-Term Focus: The market prioritizes short-term profits and may not optimize for long-term strategic outcomes in mature industries.
• Losing First Movers: The US has seen initial leads in technologies like flat-panel displays and electric vehicles slip away due to manufacturing challenges.
• Favorable Scaling Ecosystem: Deliberate ecosystem building, including strategic use of controls, tax credits, and regulation, is critical for successful scaling.

ARP and NPS News

Doug Beck, Defense Innovation Unit director and senior advisor to the U.S. Secretary of Defense, joins NPS President retired Vice Adm. Ann Rondeau in announcing a memorandum of understanding between the two organizations last April. On May 8, Beck rejoins Rondeau for a compelling discussion on “Innovating Defense” during a keynote presentation for NPS’ 22nd Annual Acquisition Research Symposium and Innovation Summit. (U.S. Navy photo by Lt. Cmdr. Ed Early)

Defense Innovation Leader Doug Beck to Speak at NPS’ Annual Acquisition Symposium and Innovation Summit
NPS Public Affairs

Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) director Doug Beck will deliver a keynote address at "Creating Synergy for Change: Transitioning Technology to the Warfighter," the Naval Postgraduate School's Annual Research Symposium and Innovation Summit.

• Speed and Scale: Mr. Beck will share insights on transitioning emerging technology to the warfighter with speed and scale.
• NPS Partnership: NPS and DIU formalized a memorandum of understanding (MOU) in April 2024 to accelerate the adoption of commercial dual-use technology and enhance defense leader education.
• Virtual Format: This year's event will be virtual and broadcast nationwide, the first interactive virtual event since 2020.
• Fireside Chat: Mr. Doug Beck and NPS President Ann Rondeau will speak on Wednesday, May 8 at 1150 - 1250 Central Time.
• Registration Open: The Research Symposium and Innovation Summit takes place May 7-8, 2025, 0800 - 1600 Central Time. For more information and to complete your registration, go here.

Commercial Solutions Opening: An Innovative, Competitive Process to Solve Slow Government Procurement
Eric W. Washburn, Mary Beth Colavito, CDR E. Cory Yoder, USN (Ret.), and Rene G. Rendon, Defense Acquisition Research Journal

This article -- coauthored by NPS professors and alumni! -- examines the Commercial Solutions Opening (CSO), a relatively new procurement method designed to expedite government contracting for innovative commercial solutions. The authors draw on feedback from DOD personnel who have utilized this authority to assess its utility, provide recommendations for improve the DoD's implementation of CSOs, and foster faster acquisition of cutting-edge technologies to maintain a competitive edge.

Now Accepting Applications: Permanent Military Professor Opportunities
NPS Foundation

The Naval Postgraduate School is now accepting applications for its Permanent Military Professor (PMP) Program. The program offers experienced military officers the opportunity to pursue a PhD and return to NPS as faculty. These "warrior-scholars" integrate their operational knowledge with academic pursuits, teaching graduate students, conducting relevant research, and bridging the gap between the university and the operational forces. For more information, visit the PMP program page.

Acquisition

Sgt. 1st Class Alfred Little, assigned to 188th Infantry Brigade, mans the Parrot ANAFI USA Small Unmanned Aircraft System (sUAS) during field training on Fort Stewart, Georgia, March 20, 2025. Photo by Staff Sgt. Marlana Cureton

Small Uncrewed Aircraft Systems (SUAS) in Divisional Brigades: Options to Improve Acquisition and Accountability
Frank Camm, Kenneth Girardini, Terrence K. Kelly, RAND

This RAND report examines the integration of additional small uncrewed aircraft systems (SUAS) within divisional brigades, focusing on the implications for various institutional and unit functions necessary for their effective use in modern combat operations. The report identifies several key areas requiring change, including streamlining SUAS acquisition, adapting property accountability policies to tolerate higher loss during training, and embracing commercial SUAS technologies.

Other Reports in this Series:

• Requirements and Findings
• Survey of SUAS
• Electronic Warfare and Spectrum Management Considerations
• Small UAS and Counter-UAS Training

Enterprise services help Navy increase ‘value per user’
Jason Miller, Federal News Network

The Department of the Navy is adopting enterprise services to consolidate disparate systems, improve operational resilience, and enhance the value delivered to users by offering unified, high-performing solutions. This strategic shift aims to modernize the Navy's IT infrastructure and promote collaboration across different organizational units.

Could this device help catch Osprey clutch problems before disaster?
Stephen Losey, Navy Times

Shift5 has been awarded a Navy contract to test its predictive maintenance technology on the V-22 Osprey, aiming to prevent fatal gearbox problems like hard clutch engagements by providing real-time data and insights to aircrews. This technology could significantly improve the safety and reliability of the tilt-rotor aircraft.

Innovation

A rocket launched from Vandenberg Air Force Base carries a fuel payload for a National Reconnaissance Office satellite. Photo courtesy of United Launch Alliance

EXCLUSIVE: NRO, Space Force in ‘final stages’ of commercial ISR arrangement
Theresa Hitchens, Breaking Defense

The US Space Force and the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) are finalizing an agreement to streamline the sharing of commercial satellite imagery and data, aiming to enhance information availability across the Department of Defense and Intelligence Community. This arrangement establishes a financial mechanism for easier collaboration on commercial acquisitions, though broader questions about the division of responsibilities for space-based intelligence gathering persist.

• Streamlined Collaboration: The agreement replaces the need for lengthy and complex Memoranda of Agreement (MOAs) with a simplified, two-page document and the use of a standard Treasury form for inter-agency payments. This streamlined approach is expected to improve day-to-day collaboration between the two entities.
• Maximizing Utility: The agreement aims to maximize the utility and availability of commercial remote sensing products. By enabling easier resource sharing and access to each other's acquisitions, both the Space Force and the NRO can potentially leverage a wider range of commercial capabilities.

Sub-drone sonar trap concept unveiled at Navy conference
Patrick Tucker, Defense One

Anduril and Ultra Maritime have introduced the Sea Spear, a novel sub-drone sonar trap system for long-duration, silent underwater surveillance. Once deployed, the Sea Spear is designed to rapidly expand up to 50 times its initial length, resembling a spring-loaded toy snake.

• Passive Surveillance: The deployed Sea Spear functions as a passive sonar system, silently listening for the acoustic signatures of enemy submarines. Unlike active sonar systems, it does not emit sound, making it harder to detect.
• Long-Term Deployment: The Sea Spear is intended for extended deployments lasting for months, providing persistent underwater surveillance. This long endurance capability enhances its value for continuous monitoring of strategic areas.
• Networked Data Transmission: Data collected by the Sea Spear is transmitted through Anduril’s Lattice network, enabling information sharing and analysis. To overcome the complexities of underwater communication, the system processes data at the tactical edge, sending low-bandwidth signals rather than high-bandwidth streams.

Defense Innovation Unit unveils advanced manufacturing marketplace
Courtney Albon, Defense News

The Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) has launched the Blue Manufacturing Marketplace to connect technology firms with vetted advanced manufacturing companies, aiming to accelerate the production and scaling of innovative technologies for the U.S. defense industrial base.

• Request for Solutions: Join the Blue Manufacturing Marketplace

Defense & Strategy

A General Atomics MQ-20 Avenger unmanned aircraft flies with a Sabreliner and two F-5 Advanced Tigers (AT) in November 2022. Credit: Tactical Air Support/General Atomics.

Logistics While Under Attack: Key to a CCA Force Design
Col Mark A. Gunzinger, USAF (Ret.), Mitchell Center

This report from the Mitchell Institute emphasizes that adequate logistics are crucial for the U.S. Air Force's development and effective deployment of Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) as a force multiplier to counter China in a Pacific conflict. These logistical considerations must inform the design, acquisition, and employment strategies for CCAs to realize their full potential.

• Logistics Critical: Adequate personnel, fuel, and airlift are essential for CCA sorties.
• Informed Design: Logistics requirements should shape CCA key performance parameters.
• Acquisition Mix: Logistics needs should influence the types of CCA the Air Force buys, as well as how they are used operationally.

The Navy needs a high/low mix of manned and unmanned platforms
Alyssa Schonhaut, Breaking Defense

Naval expert Steven Wills argues that the U.S. Navy needs a balanced mix of manned and unmanned platforms to effectively operate in a global battlespace, particularly against challenges posed by adversaries like China.

• Manned Necessity: The Navy will always require larger manned ships for sustained operations across vast distances, providing support and force protection for smaller units. An "all or nothing" approach favoring unmanned vessels is impractical for a global navy.
• Small Drone Limits: Relying solely on small, cheap unmanned ships is insufficient for global power projection and ignores the challenges of transit, endurance, and operational readiness far from land-based support.
• Unmanned Teaming: The future lies in manned and unmanned teaming, leveraging unmanned systems for tasks like reconnaissance, electronic warfare, and as adjunct missile magazines, all under the support of manned warships.

Industry

CNAS

From Production Lines to Front Lines: Revitalizing the U.S. Defense Industrial Base for Future Great Power Conflict
Becca Wasser and Philip Sheers, Center for a New American Security

This report from the Center for a New American Security argues that without significant reforms to enhance the capacity, responsiveness, flexibility, and resilience of its Defense Industrial Base (DIB), the U.S. risks failing to deter aggression and win future great power conflicts.

• DIB Challenges: Decades of consolidation, inconsistent demand, and bureaucratic rigidity have left the U.S. DIB vulnerable, less capable, and slow to react. It lacks the capacity and responsiveness needed for modern conflict.
• Strategic Mismatch: A significant gap exists between U.S. defense strategy and the reality of its industrial base. Planning and procurement have often occurred without sufficient consideration of production capacity.
• Urgent Reform: Without significant industrial reform, the U.S. DIB risks undermining deterrence today and undercutting strategic objectives in future competition and conflict, potentially leading to a failure to win against China.
• Consistent Demand: Increased use of multiyear procurement (MYP) and block-buy contracting by the DoD will provide more stable demand and enable cost savings. Congressional approval of related funding is crucial.
• Spare Capacity: Incentives for reserve manufacturing space, material stockpiles, and workforce availability are needed.
• Inventory Buildup: The DoD needs congressional budget authority to increase overall inventories and replenish diminished materials, including new materials in the National Defense Stockpile.

DARPA adds 18 companies to spooky science Quantum Benchmarking Initiative
Sydney J. Freedberg Jr., Breaking Defense

DARPA has added 18 new companies to its Quantum Benchmarking Initiative (QBI), surprising the program manager with the high number of qualified applicants. The QBI provides selected companies with access to government quantum experts for rigorous evaluation of their diverse technological approaches, with the goal of identifying and validating promising methods for building fault-tolerant quantum computers, rather than simply providing funding.

SPECIAL REPORT: Graybeards Spell Out Myths, True Fixes For U.S. Shipbuilding
Stew Magnuson, National Defense

Naval shipbuilding experts Eric Labs (Congressional Budget Office) and Ronald O’Rourke (Congressional Research Service) spoke to an audience in January about the persistent myths and misconceptions around U.S. shipbuilding programs. They argue that the core issues are executability challenges, including insufficient skilled labor and deficiencies in planning and design processes, rather than simply a lack of funding or capacity.

Other Articles in this Series:

• Part 1: Navy, Industry Try to Reverse Course on Workforce Woes
• Part 2: Unions Say Retention, Not Hiring, Is Shipbuilders’ Biggest Problem
• Part 3: Accelerated Training Program Prepares Students for Shipbuilding Careers
• Part 5: AI, Robotics May Attract New Generation of Shipyard Workers

Congress & Government

A US flag flies near the dome of the US Capitol in Washington, DC, February 25, 2025. (Photo by SAUL LOEB/AFP via Getty Images)

Congress’ new Foreign Arms Sales Task Force eyes disruptive reforms
Brandi Vincent, Defense Scoop

Congress has established a new bipartisan Foreign Arms Sales Task Force to tackle the bureaucratic challenges that impede the swift acquisition of U.S. defense systems by international partners, with the goal of proposing significant reforms to enhance transparency and efficiency in the process.

• Sustaining Manufacturers: Foreign arms sales support domestic defense manufacturing and American jobs by providing a vital market for U.S. defense companies. A cumbersome sales process can deter partners and lead to a loss of revenue, demand, and market share for U.S. companies.
• Security Implications: If allies face significant hurdles in acquiring U.S.-made defense systems, this can hinder their ability to effectively cooperate with the U.S. in joint operations and address shared security threats.

Congressional biotech commission calls for $15B over 5 years to catch up to China
Sydney J. Freedberg Jr., Breaking Defense

A congressional commission warns that the United States is falling behind China in biotechnology, recommending a significant $15 billion investment over five years to revitalize the sector and address critical national security and economic concerns.

• Strategic Neglect: Unlike China, the US lacks a national plan, relying heavily on the private sector which now faces faltering investment beyond pharmaceuticals.
• Military Applications: Biotech offers potential for enhanced military capabilities, including better lubricants, explosives, rare-earth mineral extraction, and field-deployable biomanufacturing.

Research

We tried ‘fighting China’ with lower budgets. It didn’t go well.
Travis Sharp, Casey Nicastro and Evan Braden Montgomery, Defense One

Lower defense budgets have hindered the U.S.'s ability to effectively counter the growing military challenge posed by China. A recent budget exercise revealed that even a modest increase focused on key priorities is crucial. Without real budget growth, the Pentagon faces difficult and risky trade-offs that could jeopardize near-term readiness and nuclear modernization efforts.

• Small Increases, Big Impacts: The exercise's primary lesson was that a real topline budget increase of just 2 percent could significantly enhance the Pentagon's ability to deter or fight China. This additional funding would allow for larger allocations to critical areas like long-range strike aircraft, submarines, munitions, and military infrastructure.
• Risky Tradeoffs: With flat or lower budgets, there are no easy ways to increase funding for top priorities without making risky trade-offs, such as sacrificing near-term readiness for future capabilities or underfunding modernization efforts.
• Full Report: Relook Playbook: Defense Budgeting Insights From a CSBA Rebalancing Exercise

Facilitating Usage of New Tech in Defense Systems: Issues and a Way Forward
Dr. Eric W. Burger, Dr. Robin Dillon-Merrill, Ms. Erika Heeren-Moon, Acquisition Innovation Research Center

This project identifies critical issues related to the adoption and use of new technologies within the Department of Defense (DOD) from the end-user perspective. Findings highlights a fundamental gap between acquisition and actual implementation due to cultural, functional, and process-related friction.

Adopting Human-Machine Teaming Assessment in Test and Evaluation for Defense Acquisition: Social Challenges Despite Technical Capability
Glenn Lematta, Arizona State University

DOD increasingly relies on Autonomous and AI-Enabled Systems (AAIS) that partner with warfighters, making effective Human-Machine Teaming (HMT) design a critical aspect of AAIS acquisition. While HMT is a priority and the capability to assess it arguably exists, the adoption of HMT assessment in DoD Test and Evaluation (T&E) of AAIS remains low. This review examines research, DoD policy, and the HMT community's discussions in order to identify eight challenges hindering the adoption of HMT assessment.

Contracting Pilot
Dr. Patrick Butler et al, Acquisition Innovation Research Center

This report explores the application of Artificial Intelligence and Generative AI to enhance contract management within the Army Contracting Command at Aberdeen Proving Ground. Specifically, it details two pilot projects: one focused on automatically generating Army regulation-compliant documents, and the other on identifying and flagging invoice discrepancies, demonstrating the potential for AI to automate administrative tasks and improve efficiency in defense contracting.

Defense Command and Control: Further Progress Hinges on Establishing a Comprehensive Framework
Government Accountability Office

The GAO report examines the Combined Joint All-Domain Command and Control (CJADC2) concept, a concept aimed at improving real-time information sharing and analysis across all military domains and with international partners. The GAO found that while the DOD has been working on CJADC2 since 2019, progress is hindered by the lack of a comprehensive framework to guide investments and track progress, with individual military services pursuing projects in isolation.

Events

Acquisition Reform in the New Administration: Implications for Government Contracting
16 April 2025
Virtual

APEX
23-24 April 2025
National Harbor, Maryland

DARPA Discover DSO Day
23-24 April 2025
Chicago, IL

2025 State of the Space Industrial Base Conference and SSIB Workshops
29 April - 2 May 2025
Albuquerque, NM

Building Critical Mineral Security for a Sustainable Future
30 April 2025
Washington, DC or Virtual

Creating Synergy for Informed Change: Transitioning Technology to the Warfighter
NPS 22nd Annual Acquisition Research Symposium & Innovation Summit
7-8 May 2025
Virtual

2025 ASNE Intelligent Ships Symposium
12-14 May 2025
Philadelphia, PA

DLA Supply Chain Alliance Conference & Exhibition
11-12 June 2025
Richmond, VA

Training & Simulation Industry Symposium (TSIS) 2025
17-18 June 2025
Orlando, FL

MTO Spark Tank
24-25 July 2025
Aurora, CO

MODSIM World 2025
18-20 August 2025
Norfolk, VA

2025 Emerging Technologies for Defense
27-29 August 2025
Washington, DC

I/ITSEC 2025: Optimizing Training: Ensuring Operational Dominance
1-4 December 2025
Orlando, FL

One more thing...

Sailors assigned to amphibious transport dock USS Somerset (LPD-25), Explosive Ordnance Disposal Group 1, Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron 23 ‘Wildcards,’ and NASA personnel assist NASA Astronaut Andre Douglas onto the ‘front porch,’ an inflatable raft, during NASA Underway Recovery Test 12 in the Pacific Ocean, March 28, 2025. US Navy Photo

Navy Warship Getting Ready for Role in Artemis NASA Moon Mission
Gidget Fuentes, USNI News

The US Navy is preparing USS Somerset, an amphibious transport dock ship, for a critical role in NASA's Artemis II moon mission, where it will recover four astronauts after their spacecraft splashes down in the Pacific Ocean in April 2026.

Historic Partnership: Navy and NASA have collaborated on spacecraft recovery since 1961, with San Antonio-class ships now serving as prime recovery vessels.

Fast Response: The crew has a two-hour maximum response window to reach splashdown location.

Team Effort: The recovery effort involves Navy divers, helicopter crews, and medical personnel, with the Air Force and Space Force providing additional support.

Maureen Lauder, PhD, Communications Manager
Karey Shaffer, MBA, Program Manager
Acquisition Research Program
Naval Postgraduate School
e: ARPEditor@nps.edu 

Note: Article summaries were generated with the help of AI tools.

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Acquisition Research Program Newsletter

April 4, 2025       —       Issue 237

Steven J. Morani, Performing Duties of USD(A&S) to speak at...

Creating Synergy for Change: Transitioning Technology to the Warfighter
NPS 22nd Annual Acquisition Research Symposium and Innovation Summit
May 7-8, 2025 | 0800 - 1600 Central Time
Virtual Event

We’re delighted to announce that Steven J. Morani, Performing Duties of the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment (USD(A&S)), will deliver a keynote address at our upcoming virtual, interactive Research Symposium and Innovation Summit.

Mr. Morani is responsible to the Secretary of Defense for all matters pertaining to acquisition; contract administration; logistics and materiel readiness; installations and environment; operational energy; nuclear, chemical, and biological defense; the acquisition workforce; and the defense industrial base. He is concurrently serving as the Acting Assistant Secretary of Defense for Sustainment. In this capacity, he provides oversight of the Department’s $190 billion sustainment enterprise.

The depth and breadth of Mr. Morani's experience gives him a unique perspective on the present and future of defense acquisition and technology transition. We look forward to his insight on DOD efforts to ensure that cutting-edge technologies are rapidly integrated into our defense systems and unmatched capability delivered to the warfighter.

Mr. Morani will speak on Wednesday, May 7, from 0800 to 0900 Central Time.

This Week's Top Stories 

U.S. soldiers, assigned to 82nd Airborne 3rd Brigade Combat Team, train with the Integrated Visual Augmentation System during Project Convergence 2022 at Camp Talega, California. (Sgt. Thiem Huynh/U.S. Army)

The Department of Defense has a user experience problem
Hannah Hunt, Atlantic Council

The Department of Defense (DoD) is grappling with a significant user experience (UX) problem in its software development, hindering mission readiness and potentially impacting the lethality of the force.

• Significant Delivery Problem: The DoD faces a "user delivery problem" with notable failures in critical programs failing to meet the needs of intended users.
• Slow Feedback Loop: Obtaining user feedback can take a long time, and Project Management Offices often prioritize cost and schedule over incorporating user feedback.
• Embrace Iteration: Agile practices with continuous testing, rapid prototyping, and user feedback should be integrated at scale in the development lifecycle.
• UX Not a Luxury: Focusing on UX is critical on the modern battlefield and can be a matter of life and death for warfighters.

DOD weapons buyer nominee wants to focus on new tech
Lauren C. Williams, Defense One

Michael Duffey, nominated as the Pentagon's top weapons buyer, presented his plans to improve the defense acquisition system by focusing on speed, capacity, and bringing new companies into the industrial base.

• Advance Questions: Senate Armed Services Committee Advance Policy Questions for Mr. Michael Duffey

America’s arsenal is failing. We need an industrial mobilization board now.
Sheila Cummings, Breaking Defense

The United States risks losing a potential conflict with China due to insufficient defense industrial capacity. The author argues in favor of the immediate establishment of a modern Industrial Mobilization Board (IMB) to streamline processes and empower private sector growth for national security.

The Army wants to put $1B into Transformation in Contact 2.0
Meghann Myers, Defense One

The Army is significantly expanding its Transformation in Contact (TiC) modernization model, increasing funding and the number of systems tested to accelerate technology adoption through live feedback from field units. This initiative aims to move away from traditional, lengthy acquisition processes towards faster prototyping and integration of cutting-edge technologies.

• Breaking Cycles: The initiative aims to break the rigid cycle of drafting requirements and lengthy system development.
• Behavior Reform: The Army is focusing on behavior reform in acquisition rather than just structural changes.
• Fast Prototyping: The goal is to implement fast prototyping, which clashes with the desire for full program of record metrics.

How the Pentagon Could Recoup Investment on Ukrainian Drones
Matthew Cox, Air and Space Forces Magazine

The new Artemis program from the Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) marks a shift in how the US builds on Ukraine's expertise with drone technology. This new approach aims to create a new category of weapons for the U.S. arsenal.

• Rapid Battlefield Iteration: Ukrainian drone development features incredibly fast feedback loops based on real-time battlefield experience against a constantly adapting enemy. Artemis aims to tap into Ukraine's ability to transform low-cost commercial drones into effective long-range weapons under intense battlefield conditions.
• Direct Ukrainian Partner Involvement: Unlike past instances of hiring individuals or consulting operators, Artemis formalizes partnerships with Ukrainian defense firms, potentially fostering a more comprehensive exchange of knowledge and capabilities.

NPS Hall of Fame alumnus retired U.S. Navy Adm. Cecil D. Haney served as the keynote speaker for the Naval Postgraduate School’s (NPS) 2025 Winter Quarter commencement ceremony. Haney, a former commander of U.S. Strategic Command and U.S. Pacific Fleet, is the 26th inductee into NPS’ Hall of Fame earning two master’s degrees from the institution, in engineering acoustics and systems technology.

NPS Hall of Fame Alumnus Inspires Graduates During Winter Quarter Commencement
MC2 Andrew Langholf, NPS Public Affairs

The Naval Postgraduate School's (NPS) 2025 Winter Quarter commencement ceremony recognized nearly 200 graduates and featured an inspiring keynote address from NPS Hall of Fame alumnus retired U.S. Navy Adm. Cecil D. Haney.

• Distinguished Alumnus: Haney, a former commander of U.S. Strategic Command and U.S. Pacific Fleet, earned two master's degrees from NPS.
• Valued Education: Haney recalled how his NPS experience significantly improved his critical thinking and problem-solving abilities.
• National Treasure: Haney referred to NPS as a national treasure vital to the future, noting that he often called on NPS for fresh ideas and concept validation during his senior leadership roles.

ARP and NPS News

Graduating DDM students shared their thesis research with their guests at March 2025 Graduate Research Poster Showcase (Photo by Nadia Greer)

DDM Graduates Showcase Research to Families

DDM Graduate Receives Chief of Naval Personnel Award
Naval Postgraduate School

“My thesis addresses the retention of our Sailors,” said U.S. Navy Human Resources Officer Lt. Allyson Franchi, a member of 2025 Winter Quarter graduating class. “With the recruiting challenges we’ve had in recent years, it’s more important than ever to get Sailors through their training pipeline and get them to their watch stations, and keep them there, so they can execute their missions.”

Franchi’s research led to her receipt of the Chief of Naval Personnel Award for Academic Excellence in Manpower Systems Analysis. Her thesis utilizes descriptive statistics to explored potential organizational factors contributing to trends in first-term attrition, or Sailors leaving the service prior to the completion of their initial contract.

Following graduation, Franchi will report to the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations to serve as deputy protocol officer. “NPS has taught me to think big. It’s taught me to think about big problems and bigger solutions,” she said. “And I cannot think of a better place to see that in action than the office of the Chief of Naval Operations.”

Franchi and her near 200 fellow graduates crossed the stage in King Auditorium during Winter Quarter Graduation on Friday, March 28.

More about Defense Management at NPS: https://nps.edu/web/ddm 

Acquisition

U.S. Navy photo by John F. Williams/Released

DoD Modernization Exchange 2025: Navy’s Justin Fanelli, Brandon Wehler and Matthew Rambo on unified endpoints
Jared Serbu, Federal News Network

The Navy is launching a new initiative focused on unified endpoint management to streamline IT services for sailors by centralizing device management.

IT Simplicity: The Navy aims to reduce the complexity of current IT by consolidating various one-off solutions that have been developed to meet individual, communications requirements. The ultimate aim is to make IT seamless and transparent for users.

• Centralized Management: The Navy plans to centralize procurement, distribution, maintenance, and application management of end-user devices.
• Program Impact: Program offices will be affected as they will rely on centrally provided infrastructure, allowing them to focus on software and capability development, rather than managing devices and security.
• Continuous Evolution: Common platforms will enable rapid feedback integration and deployment of solutions. The selected "best-of-breed" solutions will not be static but will continue to evolve, with a focus on outcomes rather than inputs.

B-21 “Bomber on a Budget”
Rebecca Grant, Real Clear Defense

The B-21 Raider bomber program has demonstrated a successful model for advanced aircraft procurement by effectively controlling costs and maintaining a predictable schedule, providing confidence for future sixth-generation aircraft investments. The B-21 program has stayed under budget, a notable first for a stealth aircraft program.

FAR overhaul: The challenges in tackling federal procurement’s 5,000-page beast
Nick Wakeman, NextGov

The Trump administration is planning a major overhaul of the Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR) with the goal of streamlining the procurement process, reducing compliance burdens, and fostering greater competition and efficiency in the federal marketplace. However, given the immense scale and complexity of the FAR, significant challenges remain in achieving substantial simplification.

The government confirms its rights to certain contractor intellectual property
Tom Temin, Federal News Network

A recent legal dispute has affirmed the government's rights to certain intellectual property, specifically data necessary for operation, maintenance, installation, and training (omit data), even when developed at private expense.

Managing Space Acquisition as a Warfighting Capability
Stephanie Young, Cynthia R. Cook, et al., Defense Acquisition Magazine

The U.S. Space Force (USSF) is actively transforming its acquisition processes to operate as a key warfighting capability, emphasizing agility, speed, and resilience against increasingly sophisticated adversary threats. This evolution requires a significant shift from traditional acquisition approaches towards a more integrated and threat-informed system that leverages commercial innovation and fosters strong partnerships across various stakeholders.

Innovation

US military could soon get new affordable hypersonic vehicles with Mach 5 speed. (Representational image) iStock/Olena Bartienieva

US students to 3D print affordable hypersonic vehicles for military
Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering

US students at the University of Arizona are using advanced 3D printing and novel metallic alloys to develop affordable hypersonic vehicles for the military, aiming to create aircraft capable of speeds exceeding Mach 5. This research, funded by the U.S. Army, is a strategic effort to enhance national security and could eventually benefit commercial aviation.

• 3D Printing: Researchers will use metal 3D printers to consolidate metallic powders into novel alloys.
• Affordability Focus: The project aims to make hypersonic vehicles more affordable. A key goal is to understand the costs and tradeoffs of materials and processes for 3D printing hypersonic components.
• Commercial Spin-off: Researchers believe the developed materials and protocols will eventually be used in space travel and commercial aviation.

Experts warn Pentagon to embrace software-defined warfare to counter China’s military advantage
Carley Welch, Breaking Defense

A new report from the Atlantic Council emphasizes the urgent need for the Pentagon to embrace software-defined warfare as a critical differentiator to counter China's growing military capabilities by leveraging America's commercial software advantages and its wealth of data.

• Software-Centric Approach: Software-defined warfare is a software-centric, hardware-enabled strategy focused on continuous integration of cutting-edge, interoperable technology.
• Urgent Implementation Needed: The report stresses the necessity of near-term implementation of software-defined warfare, especially before a potential conflict with China around 2027.
• Commercial Default Approach: Commercial software benefits from continuous updates across a broad user base. The report recommends making commercial software the default for the DoD to reduce costs, shorten schedules, and decrease risks.
• Modernized Test Infrastructure: The DoD needs to modernize its software testing and evaluation infrastructure by fostering better communication between developers, testers, and operators.
• Full Report: Atlantic Council Commission on Software-Defined Warfare: Final Report
• Related Article: Experts: US Military Needs ‘Software Literate’ Workforce, Not Just Coders
• Second Front Podcast: Software Defined Warfare with Lt. Gen. Jack Shanahan and Stephen Rodriguez

The Army wants simple, cheap unmanned tech—here are some options
Meghann Myers, Defense One

Facing modern warfare realities, the U.S. Army is actively seeking simple and affordable unmanned and counter-unmanned technologies to complement its high-end systems.

• Hellhound: This turbojet-powered drone is designed for rapid, inexpensive manufacturing with inexpensive materials and can be repaired on the battlefield using 3D printers potentially located in forward operating bases. Payloads can be swapped in under five minutes without tools, minimizing logistical burdens.
• Countering Drone Swarms: The Army is exploring solutions like the Blue Halo counter-drone laser which offers a cost-effective alternative to expensive missiles for downing drones, with tests showing it can effectively engage drones in seconds.

Defense & Strategy

Gen. Gregory M. Guillot, commander of U.S. Northern Command and North American Aerospace Defense Command, testifies before the House Armed Services Committee in Washington, D.C. March 21, 2024. (DoD photo by EJ Hersom)

NORTHCOM commander: ‘Strong concern’ spectrum auctioning could jeopardize Golden Dome
Carley Welch, Breaking Defense

The potential auctioning or sharing of the 3.1-3.45 GHz electromagnetic spectrum band is generating significant worry within the US Northern Command and among members of Congress. The Defense Department, which considers the band essential for military radar, satellite communications, and navigation, has argued for years with commercial entities eager to utilize it for high-speed wireless services.

• Security Risks: Vacating the band poses national security risks, some classified, and could jeopardize Golden Dome, President Trump's missile defense initiative.

Air Force Picked Boeing for NGAD Based on ‘Best Overall Value.’ Here’s What It Means
John A. Tirpak, Air and Space Forces Magazine

The Air Force selected Boeing over Lockheed Martin for the Next-Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) program to develop the F-47 fighter, citing "best overall value" as the determining factor for this sixth-generation air superiority platform.

• Value Over Price: The "best overall value" determination signifies that Boeing's proposal was deemed superior to Lockheed Martin's not necessarily due to the lowest cost, but because it was considered more realistic or offered greater value through factors like superior technical performance or reduced long-term maintainability costs.

Industry

Strength in Unity. Sgt. Lonnie Poore, an Armor Crewman with the 2nd Squadron, 278th Armored Calvary Regiment, ground guides a M109 Paladin off the Liberty Pride deep water container ship at the port of Gdansk in Gdansk, Poland August 29, 2018

Taiwan’s Biggest Limitation in Defense Isn’t Spending, It’s Late Deliveries from U.S. Defense Companies
Kevin Ting-Chen Sun and Howard Shen, War on the Rocks

Despite its willingness to increase defense spending, persistent delays in receiving contracted arms from the United States, its main supplier, undermine Taiwan's defense planning, erode public and legislative confidence, and leave the island reliant on outdated equipment.

• Budget Erosion: Repeated delays in arms deliveries undermine public and legislative trust in defense spending, making it harder to justify budget increases.
• Legislative Caution: Taiwan's legislature has become more cautious with budget reviews, freezing funds for delayed U.S. arms sales to track project execution.
• Systemic Issues: The root causes of delays include U.S. industrial base limitations in some cases, but also contradictory information and a fragmented U.S. government approval process.

Office of Strategic Capital Receives $8.9 Billion in Financing Requests for First Domestic Manufacturing Loan Program
DOD Press Operations

The Office of Strategic Capital (OSC) has received overwhelming interest in its inaugural domestic manufacturing loan program, highlighting a significant need for federal support to bolster U.S. manufacturing in critical technology sectors. The program aims to address the lack of long-term, cost-effective capital that has hindered domestic production and allowed strategic competitors to gain ground.

Space Force Awards First Commercial Reserve Contracts
Greg Hadley, Air & Space Forces Magazine

The Space Force has initiated its Commercial Augmentation Space Reserve (CASR) program by awarding initial small contracts aimed at leveraging commercial space capabilities to enhance military operations in space. The program aims to establish the contracting mechanisms needed to ensure commercial capabilities are readily available when required.

Congress & Government

2015 photo of a segment of John F. Kennedy (CVN 79) being moved into place at Newport News Shipbuilding. Newport News Shipbuilding

Shipbuilders swarm Capitol Hill to lobby for aircraft carrier funding
Lauren C. Williams, Defense One

The Aircraft Carrier Industrial Base Coalition (ACIBC) is urgently lobbying Congress for $600 million in advanced funding for the delayed CVN-82 aircraft carrier in order to safeguard the nation's capacity to project power globally.

• Production Risk: Suppliers face imminent work stoppages and production line closures without orders, while potential layoffs threaten loss of skilled shipbuilding labor.
• Funding Stability: Predictable funding is essential for industrial base stability and planning.

Research

Photo by Dithira Hettiarachchi on Unsplash

Analyzing Factors That Contribute to Cost Overruns on Department of Defense (DoD) Contractor Programs
Dawn Funches Allen, The George Washington University

This research analyzes contributing factors to DOD cost overruns and applies machine learning models to predict their likelihood.

The Modern Iron Mountain
Capt R. Campbell German, Marine Corps Gazette

The Marine Corps is evolving its logistics strategy to meet the demands of modern warfare, shifting from reliance on centralized storage towards agile, self-sufficient units supported by advanced technologies. The author cautions that that technology alone is insufficient to ensure readiness and must be integrated with established logistical practices.

Military Mobility Depends on Secure Critical Infrastructure
Annie Fixler, RADM (Ret.) Mark Montgomery, Rory Lane, CSC 2.0

The ability of the U.S. military to project power rapidly hinges on the security and resilience of critical infrastructure sectors like maritime, aviation, and rail, which are increasingly vulnerable to cyberattacks, particularly from near-peer adversaries like China. Strengthening the cybersecurity of these commercial assets and improving public-private collaboration are deemed essential for ensuring effective military mobilization and deployment in times of conflict.

Risk Management of Strategic Readiness
Dwight Phillips, et al, RAND

This RAND research analyzes the Department of Defense's (DOD) initial efforts to implement its 2023 strategic readiness policy, highlighting challenges in definition, risk management, and data utilization, and offering recommendations for improvement. This research aimed to ensure DOD decision-making regarding strategic readiness is coherent, objective, and data-informed.

Opportunities

Advance Underwater Communication for the Future of Naval Operations
Defense Innovation Unit

As part of the AUKUS Maritime Innovation Challenge 2025, Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) is seeking commercial solutions to develop cutting-edge underwater communication technologies and enhance naval operational capabilities in the undersea domain.

Solicitation

Events

Sea Air Space
6-9 April 2025
National Harbor, Maryland

APEX
23-24 April 2025
National Harbor, Maryland

DARPA Discover DSO Day
23-24 April 2025
Chicago, IL

2025 State of the Space Industrial Base Conference and SSIB Workshops
29 April - 2 May 2025
Albuquerque, NM

Building Critical Mineral Security for a Sustainable Future
30 April 2025
Washington, DC or Virtual

Creating Synergy for Informed Change: Transitioning Technology to the Warfighter
NPS 22nd Annual Acquisition Research Symposium & Innovation Summit
7-8 May 2025
Virtual

2025 ASNE Intelligent Ships Symposium
12-14 May 2025
Philadelphia, PA

DLA Supply Chain Alliance Conference & Exhibition
11-12 June 2025
Richmond, VA

Training & Simulation Industry Symposium (TSIS) 2025
17-18 June 2025
Orlando, FL

MTO Spark Tank
24-25 July 2025
Aurora, CO

MODSIM World 2025
18-20 August 2025
Norfolk, VA

2025 Emerging Technologies for Defense
27-29 August 2025
Washington, DC

I/ITSEC 2025: Optimizing Training: Ensuring Operational Dominance
1-4 December 2025
Orlando, FL

One more thing...

Sailors assigned to the Wasp-class amphibious assault ship USS Iwo Jima (LHD 7) pose at the Marine Corps War Memorial in Arlington County, VA, for photos with surviving veterans from the Battle of Iwo Jima during the 80th Anniversary Commemoration of the Battle of Iwo Jima. (U.S. Navy Photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Isaac Rodriguez)

A Legacy of Honor and Valor: The 80th Annual Reunion of Honor & 250 Years of the Marine Corps
2nd Lt. Taiyo Tatara & Lance Cpl. Jennifer Le, Marines News

The 80th Annual Reunion of Honor was held on March 29, 2025, at Iwo To, Japan. The event served as a tribute to the veterans of the Battle of Iwo Jima and highlighted the enduring alliance between the United States and Japan.

• Significant Milestone: The 80th Reunion of Honor coincided with the Marine Corps' 250th year.
• Veteran Reunion: Marines and Japan Self Defense Forces members from different generations attended. Japanese dignitaries honored the fallen with a water ceremony.
• Alliance Highlighted: The event showcased the transformation of former enemies into allies. The U.S.-Japan Alliance is crucial for Indo-Pacific stability.

Maureen Lauder, PhD, Communications Manager
Karey Shaffer, MBA, Program Manager
Acquisition Research Program
Naval Postgraduate School
e: ARPEditor@nps.edu 

Note: Article summaries were generated with the help of AI tools.

Home     Student Program     Work with us     Events     DAIR     News

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NEED TO KNOW

Acquisition Research Program Newsletter

March 28, 2025       —       Issue 236

DIU's Doug Beck to speak at
Creating Synergy for Change: Transitioning Technology to the Warfighter
NPS 22nd Annual Acquisition Research Symposium and Innovation Summit
May 7-8, 2025 | 0800 - 1600 Central Time

We’re pleased to announce that Doug Beck, Director of Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) and Senior Advisor to the Secretary of Defense, will be speaking at our virtual, interactive Research Symposium and Innovation Summit in May.

As head of DIU, Mr. Beck oversees efforts to accelerate DOD’s adoption of commercial technology throughout the military. Under his leadership, DIU has moved into the next phase of development — scaling innovation throughout the DOD, accelerating adoption of commercial technology, and aligning and building a national innovation force.

We look forward to hearing Mr. Beck’s recommendations for bringing innovative technology and unmatched capability to the warfighter with the focus, scale, and speed necessary for strategic superiority.

Mr. Beck will join NPS president Ann Rondeau, Ed.D., Vice Admiral, USN (Ret), for a fireside chat on “Innovating Defense,” during which virtual audience members will be invited to submit questions.

This fireside chat will take place Thursday, May 8, at 1150 - 1250 Central Time.

This Week's Top Stories 

Pentagon Press Briefing Room. (DoD photo by Lisa Ferdinando)

How to Prioritize DOD’s Budget: Experts Try It—and So Can You
Greg Hadley, Air & Space Forces Magazine

In a recent workshop from American Enterprise Institute, defense analysts and experts simulated possible outcomes of the 8% budget reallocation ordered by Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth.

• AI-Powered Reallocation: Participants utilized AEI's new AI-powered Defense Futures Simulator to make program-by-program adjustments.
• Challenging Tradeoffs: Making cuts involved balancing force structure, readiness, and modernization -- all within the confines of Hegseth's stated priorities and exemptions.
• Army Cuts, Navy Gains: All eight teams reduced the Army's overall budget and increased the Navy's.
• Surface Ship Concerns: Multiple participants would have cut Navy surface ships if allowed due to survivability concerns against China.
• AI Simulator: Try the Defense Futures Simulator for yourself.
• Event Recording: The Defense Department’s 8 Percent Challenge: What to Cut and Where to Invest

Audit at the Speed of War: Why the DoD Must Automate Audit and Business Operations
Greg Little, Kim Lynch, Gregory Pejic, and Jonathan Moak

DOD has repeatedly failed its financial audits despite significant expenditures, highlighting a critical need to shift from inefficient manual processes to automated, software-driven systems to achieve both audit success and enhanced warfighting readiness.

• Force Multiplier: An effective audit should be a force multiplier, enhancing warfighting readiness, financial transparency, and cost efficiency. Knowing asset locations and conditions is vital for combat effectiveness.
• Financial Opacity: Lack of financial visibility leads to delays, lost purchasing power, and trapped funds.
• Flawed Audit Incentives: The current labor-based audit industry, driven by cost-plus and time-and-materials contracts, incentivizes prolonged remediation rather than solutions.
• Beyond Dashboards: DOD's Advana software is intended to integrate data streams from many sources, but, to be effective, it must evolve beyond dashboards into a central system for real-time analytics, workflows, and AI-driven reconciliation.

GSA to ‘quadruple' in size to centralize procurement across the government
Natalie Alms, NextGov

A new executive order is set to significantly expand the General Services Administration (GSA) by centralizing procurement across the government, aiming for greater efficiency and cost savings. This expansion, which could quadruple the agency's size, coincides with internal changes at the GSA, including workforce reductions and the adoption of artificial intelligence.

SecDef’s software memo causing ‘angst,' defense official says
Lauren C. Williams, Defense One

Defense Secretary's new memo aims to accelerate software acquisition within the Pentagon by urging the use of rapid procurement methods as standard practice. This shift is causing some initial anxiety among the defense contracting workforce but is largely viewed by leadership and industry as crucial for maintaining technological superiority.

• Faster Buying Needed: The Pentagon's acting weapons chief, Steven Morani, stated that this anxiety underscores the necessity of the "buy-it-faster directive."

DOD cuts $580M in programs, contracts and grants
Edward Graham, NextGov

The Department of Defense (DOD) is making budget cuts totaling over $580 million across various programs, contracts, and grants deemed "wasteful spending".

• HR Software Axed: A delayed HR software modernization program accounts for almost half the cuts. The program is 6 years late with budget overruns of 780%.
• Consultant Contracts Ended: $30 million in contracts with external consultants like McKinsey & Company and Gartner were terminated.
• DEI Initiatives Slashed: $360 million in grants tied to diversity, equity, and inclusion are being cut.

Closeup of a uncrewed autonomous system (UAS) that employs Gambit Defense control and networking technology. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Andrew Langholf).

Lasers Destroy Drones as Additive Manufacturing Builds Them
Dan Linehan, NPS

The February 2025 Joint Interagency Field Experimentation (JIFX) event showcased cutting-edge military technologies such as laser drone destruction and mobile additive manufacturing, providing a crucial platform for collaboration and real-world evaluation.

• Counter-Drone Advancement: The successful demonstration of laser weapon systems (LWS) engaging and destroying drones signifies a crucial step forward in developing effective counter-uncrewed systems (C-UAS) capabilities.
• Expeditionary Logistics: Firestorm Labs demonstrated its xCell mobile additive manufacturing station, which enables on-demand production of drone components and spare parts in forward operating locations or contested environments.
• Operational Insights: Students had the opportunity to offer their operational insights to technologists, influencing the development of solutions to real-world military challenges.
• Technology Evaluation: Participation in JIFX allowed students, particularly those in programs like Bold Machina (BOMA), to learn about the processes of rapidly evaluating and accelerating technologies for adoption by the fleet.
• Transition to Operational Use: By witnessing the experimentation and evaluation of nascent technologies, students gain insight into how emerging technologies can be transitioned into operational capabilities.

Non-Military Foreign Assistance is Now DoD’s Problem
Seth Middleton, Small Wars Journal

The significant downsizing of USAID by the Trump administration will likely force the Department of Defense (DoD) to take a leading role in non-military foreign assistance, potentially detracting from its core missions of lethality and war fighting.

• Doctrinal Emphasis: Joint doctrine (JP 3-29 and JP 3-0) highlights USAID's vital role in national security, foreign policy, and its extensive international network.
• LSCO Burden: The humanitarian aspects of Large Scale Combat Operations (LSCO) will now fall more heavily on the DoD.
• Policy Tool: Despite criticisms, non-military aid is expected to continue, albeit reduced, as a tool for US economic leverage.
• DoD Readiness: The DoD must consider the posture, size, and readiness of its non-lethal capabilities and adapt joint doctrine and training.

ARP and NPS News

A U.S. Navy helicopter delivers pallets of dry stores to the ships of the USS Theodore Roosevelt. Photo by Sarah Cannon, DVIDS.

NPS Professor Engineers New Risk Assessment for Navy Supply Routes

Naval Postgraduate School Senior Lecturer Harrison Schramm has developed a groundbreaking, patent-pending approach that helps military logisticians integrate risk, including from adversaries, into supply route planning – a capability that's increasingly critical in all theaters.

Traditional logistics approaches are extremely efficient at finding the shortest or most efficient routes between two points. But in an environment where adversaries like China can threaten cargo ships from increasingly long distances, the shortest route isn't always the safest choice.

A former Navy logistics helicopter pilot with a focus both on AI and logistics, Schramm created a lightweight program that layers threat assessment capabilities onto existing tools. His solution, which can run on a computer no bigger than a pack of gum, helps planners balance efficiency with risk when routing supplies and munitions through a contested theater.

Schramm’s time as a pilot has made him keenly aware that no defense solution “works” unless it works for the service members who use it. So he built for speed and adoptability. His algorithm can run in mere seconds and is intended to seamlessly augment existing logistics planning.

”Everything I'm doing right now is focused on getting the best performance from the smallest possible computer," said Schramm, who is collaborating with industry partners and INDOPACOM's J4 Logistics and Engineering Directorate.

Mr. Schramm will share more details about his patent-pending innovation at this year’s Creating Synergy for Change: Transitioning Technology to the Warfighter, NPS 22nd Annual Acquisition Research Symposium and Innovation Summit. He will also discuss the logistical challenges facing INDOPACOM and how NPS and its industry partners leveraged their unique capabilities to develop a solution.

The Symposium and Innovation Summit is an interactive, virtual event taking place on May 7 and 8, from 0800 to 1600 Central time.

Go here to view the full program and complete your registration.

Acquisition

amgun/Getty Images

Buckle up: The acquisition ride is only going to get bumpier
Stan Soloway, NextGov

The federal contracting and acquisition landscape is facing significant turbulence, marked by unprecedented actions and policy shifts that necessitate adaptability for contractors. Major changes so far include challenges to core tenets of federal contracting, significant changes in procurement processes, and potential shifts in contract requirements.

DoD shepherds CMMC through Trump deregulatory initiative
Justin Doubleday, Federal News Network

Despite facing hurdles from the Trump administration's deregulatory policies, the Department of Defense (DoD) is actively working to finalize and implement the Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) acquisition rule to better protect controlled unclassified information within the defense industrial base. Key DoD officials remain optimistic about the rule's eventual implementation, citing national security imperatives.

GSA issues major changes to Multiple Awards Schedule program
Frank Konkel, Next Gov

The General Services Administration (GSA) has initiated major changes to its Multiple Awards Schedule (MAS) program, a significant commercial acquisition program responsible for over $51 billion in sales last year.

• Sales Thresholds: MAS contracts not meeting sales thresholds will be allowed to expire.
• Process Streamlining: The changes aim to simplify processes and eliminate inefficiencies.

Here are 10 ways DOGE can remake our outdated Defense Department
Elaine McCusker, Todd Harrison and John Ferrari, The Hill

The consolidation of the defense industry in the post-Cold War era, driven by a reduction in spending and encouraged consolidation, has resulted in an inefficient and uncompetitive sector, mirroring the failed industrial policies of post-war Britain. To reverse this trend and foster a more innovative and efficient defense sector, the authors propose ten key actions focused on eliminating bureaucracy, promoting competition and innovation, better aligning acquisition with warfighter needs, and streamlining financial and contracting processes.

Working Paper: How DOGE Can Retake the Commanding Heights: Overhauling How America Equips Its Warfighter

GSA launches FedRAMP revamp
Natalie Alms, NextGov

The General Services Administration (GSA) has launched FedRAMP 20x, a significant overhaul of the Federal Risk and Authorization Management Program. They intend to dramatically speed up the process for government agencies to adopt new cloud technologies by increasing automation and reducing bureaucratic hurdles.

• Zero Trust Focus: FedRAMP 20x will emphasize maximizing zero trust security principles.
• Drive for Efficiency: Streamlining the program is expected to expedite the adoption of secure, innovative technologies.
• Private Innovation: FedRAMP will set standards to enable private innovation in security solutions.
• Decentralized Approach: The program will move away from centralized authority within the FedRAMP PMO.

Innovation

U.S. Army National Guard photo by Sgt. 1st Class Shane Smith

Can this GPS alternative keep a drone from crashing?
Lauren C. Williams, Defense One

A new software offers a resilient alternative to GPS for drone navigation. The system uses 3D maps created from satellite imagery, enabling unmanned aerial systems (UAS) to operate effectively even when GPS is unavailable due to jamming or spoofing.

• GPS Alternative Navigation: The software utilizes a 3D map built from high-resolution satellite imagery. Unmanned aerial systems (UAS) determine their absolute position by matching what their onboard camera sees to the detailed 3D map.
• Enhanced Positional Awareness: The software can be integrated with other drone sensors such as inertial measurement units (IMU) and visual odometry (VO), as well as existing GPS. By fusing data from the best available sources, the navigation system ensures the most accurate positioning.

CBD, DIU Strengthen National Security with AI-Driven Biosurveillance
Defense Innovation Unit

The Department of Defense (DOD)'s Chemical and Biological Defense (CBD) program and the Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) are jointly spearheading an initiative to bolster national security by developing AI-driven biosurveillance capabilities for the swift identification and mitigation of emerging biological threats.

• Modernized Approach: Current biosurveillance relies on predefined lists and manual processing, which limits the ability to identify novel threats. This initiative seeks a more adaptive approach.
• Predictive Capability: Leveraging AI and big data will transform biosurveillance into a predictive and responsive capability for various scenarios.
• Commercial Tech: The initiative leverages commercial technology to create a real-time, data-driven intelligence capability.

DOD turns its focus to 6G with concept that could help sense drones
Billy Mitchell, DefenseScoop

The Department of Defense (DOD) is actively pursuing the development of 6G wireless technologies as the primary focus of its future warfighting network research.

• Innovative Sensing: Integrated Sensing and Communication is a key 6G concept that uses radio frequencies to create situational awareness by sensing objects, including non-transmitting ones, connected to a network.
• Drone Awareness: A significant early use case for this technology is to improve awareness and management of drones, including detection, deconfliction, and control, addressing growing national security concerns related to weaponized commercial drones.

Defense & Strategy

A US Navy Sailor launches an F/A-18E Super Hornet from the “Blue Diamonds” of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 146 from the flight deck of the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz (CVN 68). US Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Joseph Calabrese)

Clarity is power: The Trump administration needs a new US Navy Navigation Plan
Bruce Stubbs, Atlantic Council

The 2024 US Navy Navigation Plan (NAVPLAN) has become outdated with the inauguration of President Trump, whose focus on building a larger Navy contrasts with the previous plan's prioritization of readiness and capability over capacity. This Atlantic Council issue brief argues that the new 2025 NAVPLAN must embrace the president's direction and address critical deficiencies in the 2024 version, particularly in clarity, focus, frankness, and strategic depth.

EXCLUSIVE: Pentagon memo lays out push for Advana to become formal program of record
Carley Welch, Breaking Defense

The Pentagon is considering formalizing its Advana data analytics platform as a program of record, signaling a potential shift in its development and management.

• Data Interoperability: Originally intended to integrate DOD financial systems, Advana is a massive data environment that brings together data flows from more than 400 DOD business systems.

What will the Army’s Next-Gen C2 contract look like?
Mark Pomerleau, DefenseScoop

The Army is adopting a novel and iterative strategy for its Next Generation Command and Control (NGC2) program, prioritizing collaboration with industry and flexible requirements to rapidly modernize its command and control capabilities.

• Iterative Development: The Army is pursuing a minimal viable product approach with continuous iteration and learning, integrating technological improvements as they become available.
• Avoiding "Valley of Death": Officials believe this novel approach will prevent the "valley of death", the failure to transition promising technologies from R&D to procurement.
• Unconventional Contracting: The contracting strategy is unconventional, enabling multiple iterative and competitive opportunities for contractors, as no single company can provide a total solution.
• First Article in This Series: How the Army built Next-Gen Command and Control

Industry

United States of America and EU Flags. Shutterstock.com

A Transatlantic Defense Industrial Base? Two Contrasting Views
Jonathan Caverley, Ethan B. Kapstein, Élie Tenenbaum, and Léo Péria-Peigné, French Institute of International Relations (Ifri)

This report offers two distinct perspectives on the defense industrial relationship between the United States and Europe amidst a complex global security landscape. One view posits Europe's continued dependence on US technological superiority, while the other champions Europe's potential for greater strategic autonomy and a more balanced transatlantic partnership.

Military prototypes work great if you know how to use them
Tom Temin, Federal News Network

This interview with the Baroni Center's Stephanie Halcrow explores the key findings of a recent report on prototyping.

• Differing Success Metrics: While the government might value learning from failed prototypes, industry and warfighters primarily see success in prototypes that are integrated into systems or become programs of record.
• Critical Best Practices Identified: The study emphasizes several best practices, including clearly defining the problem, securing customer commitment and resources, preparing for the "end game" (production/integration), utilizing digital and open systems with international standards, and the re-evaluation of legacy requirements. Collaboration on requirements is highly valued by industry.
• Importance of Measuring Outcomes: Given the significant increase in prototyping expenditure, clearly defining and measuring the success of these efforts is crucial for improvement and achieving desired transitions or integrations.

Congress & Government

U.S. President Donald Trump's nominee for Secretary of the U.S. Navy John Phelan arrives to a Senate Armed Services confirmation hearing on Capitol Hill on February 27, 2025 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)

Senate confirms Trump’s pick to lead Navy and Marine Corps
Jon Harper, DefenseScoop

John Phelan has been confirmed by the Senate as the new Secretary of the Navy.

• Leadership Transition: Phelan, a businessman with no prior military experience, takes charge during a period of Pentagon reviews and hiring adjustments.
• Priorities: Phelan plans to emphasize increased investment in uncrewed systems and related technologies for a "hybrid fleet" to counter threats like China. This includes the Marine Corps' initiatives with autonomous collaborative aircraft.

Trump taps ‘The DoddFather’ to oversee critical technologies at the Pentagon
Jon Harper, DefenseScoop

President Trump has nominated Michael Dodd to the position of Assistant Secretary of Defense for Critical Technologies. Established in 2023, a role designed to steer the technological advancements within the Department of Defense's research and engineering sector. Dodd's extensive background in defense innovation and technology positions him as a significant figure in shaping the future of U.S. military capabilities, pending Senate confirmation.

• "DoddFather" Insights: Dodd authors a newsletter, “The DoddFather Diaries,” focused on defense technology and innovation.
• DIU Principal: Dodd currently serves as principal for energy at the National Security Innovation Capital (NSIC), a component of the Defense Innovation Unit (DIU).

Research

McKinsey

Creating a modernized defense technology frontier
Dale Swartz and Ryan Brukardt with Karl Hujsak, McKinsey

This article argues that while public and private investment in defense innovation is significant, achieving a modernized defense frontier requires addressing fragmentation and barriers to technology adoption through better collaboration, funding efficiency, talent development, and infrastructure upgrades.

Navy Shipbuilding: Enduring Challenges Call for Systemic Change
Government Accountability Office

This GAO report highlights that, despite a near doubling of its budget over the past two decades, the Navy has failed to increase its fleet size as planned. Shipbuilding acquisition practices have been marked by cost growth and delivery delays, necessitating a systemic shift towards adopting leading commercial ship design and product development approaches.

Cloud Computing: Private Sector Leading Practices in Acquisition, Cybersecurity, and Workforce Development
Government Accountability Office

This GAO report identifies 19 leading practices used by private sector companies in adopting and implementing cloud computing solutions across three key management areas, providing valuable insights for federal policymakers and program managers navigating their own cloud transitions.

DOD Contracting: Opportunities Exist to Improve Pilot Program for Employee-Owned Businesses
Government Accountability Office

The GAO examines a DOD pilot program that allows awarding certain contracts without competition to companies organized as employee stock ownership plans (ESOPs). The report concludes that while ESOPs can offer benefits, the DOD's initial and updated guidance for the pilot program has been insufficient, leading to issues with implementation and alignment with best practices for pilot program design.

Events

Hypersonic Weapons & Emerging Technologies Summit
1–2 April 2025
Huntsville, AL

TEVCON: Technology, Energy, Vehicle Conference
2-4 April 2025
San Diego, CA

Technology & National Security Conference
4-5 April 2025
Cambridge, MA

Building Critical Mineral Security for a Sustainable Future
30 April 2025
Washington, DC or Virtual

Sea Air Space
6-9 April 2025
National Harbor, Maryland

APEX
23-24 April 2025
National Harbor, Maryland

2025 State of the Space Industrial Base Conference and SSIB Workshops
29 April - 2 May 2025
Albuquerque, NM

Creating Synergy for Informed Change: Transitioning Technology to the Warfighter
NPS 22nd Annual Acquisition Research Symposium & Innovation Summit
7-8 May 2025
Virtual

2025 ASNE Intelligent Ships Symposium
12-14 May 2025
Philadelphia, PA

DLA Supply Chain Alliance Conference & Exhibition
11-12 June 2025
Richmond, VA

Training & Simulation Industry Symposium (TSIS) 2025
17-18 June 2025
Orlando, FL

MTO Spark Tank
24-25 July 2025
Aurora, CO

MODSIM World 2025
18-20 August 2025
Norfolk, VA

2025 Emerging Technologies for Defense
27-29 August 2025
Washington, DC

I/ITSEC 2025: Optimizing Training: Ensuring Operational Dominance
1-4 December 2025
Orlando, FL

One more thing...

President Calvin Coolidge decorating Henry Breault of the submarine 0-5 with the Congressional Medal of Honor. (Source: Library of Congress)

Petition seeks to name submarine after ‘The Silent Service’s First Hero’
Alison Cross, Stars and Stripes

A nationwide coalition is petitioning the U.S. Navy to name a Virginia-class submarine after Henry Breault, the only enlisted submariner to ever receive the Medal of Honor.

• Selfless Sacrifice: In 1923, Breault chose to remain in a sinking submarine to save a trapped shipmate. Rather than exiting the submarine, Breault closed the hatch and went to the torpedo room, sealing the watertight door to preventing further flooding.
• Dual Survival: Breault and his shipmate had about 48 hours of oxygen available. They were rescued after a 31-hour operation, although not before a battery explosion caused an electrical fire in an adjacent chamber.
• Historical Significance: Breault’s actions highlight the core values of the submarine force. A petition with over 2,000 signatures urges the Navy to name a Virginia-class submarine after Breault.

Maureen Lauder, PhD, Communications Manager
Karey Shaffer, MBA, Program Manager
Acquisition Research Program
Naval Postgraduate School
e: ARPEditor@nps.edu 

Note: Article summaries were generated with the help of AI tools.

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NEED TO KNOW

Acquisition Research Program Newsletter

March 21, 2025       —       Issue 235

Creating Synergy for Informed Change:
Transitioning Technology to the Warfighter

Interactive Virtual Event: NPS' 22nd Annual Acquisition Research Symposium & Innovation Summit
May 7-8, 2025 | 0800-1600 Central Time

This year's symposium features an Innovation Summit focused on getting cutting-edge technology to warfighters at the speed of innovation -- with a particular focus on crossing the "Valley of Death."

Ms. Maria A. Proestou, Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Navy, Acquisition Policy & Budget and Executive Director, Science and Technology (S&T) Board, will chair a panel devoted to this topic: "Crossing the Valley of Death: Strategic Innovation and Enhanced Outcomes."

• Justin Fanelli and fellow co-authors of "Crossing the Valley of Death Faster and More Often with Bigger Outcomes" propose a framework for assessing and prioritizing candidate technologies against the needs and capabilities of the receiving organization. A pilot program testing this framework produced a 30% increase in successful transitions.
• Jennifer Dougherty, of the Government Acccountability Office, will speak on Defense Innovations Unit's (DIU) flexible agreement award process, the number of prototypes that transitioned to a DOD partner, and the performance management process DIU uses to measure its ability to address DOD's critical needs.
• DARPA's John Kamp will speak on "Process innovation pilots: lowering early-stage barriers to entry and survival" -- the acquisition innovations and outreach education efforts DARPA employs to identify and attract new ideas and small businesses to develop dual-use and create attractive opportunities for outside investors.

The panel takes place on Thursday, May 8th, at 1300-1415 Central Time.

View the entire program -- and reserve your seat at this virtual event -- here: https://researchsymposium.com/

This Week's Top Stories 

3d printer nozzle arm head printing layer. Jakub Żerdzicki on Unsplash

Accelerating critical component manufacturing: From years to weeks
DARPA Public Affairs

A DARPA-supported start-up has developed breakthrough manufacturing process called LAM3D for traveling-wave tubes (TWTs), critical components in high-performance applications. DARPA recognizes Elve's innovation as a "gamechanger" for both defense and commercial sectors, unlocking new TWT possibilities.

• Manufacturing Bottleneck: Traditional TWT production is highly specialized and labor-intensive, often taking 12 to 18 months per unit, leading to constrained supply and high costs.
• Startup Breakthrough: Elve, a deep-tech hardware manufacturing startup, developed a new approach to TWT manufacturing. The new process combines additive manufacturing with advanced inspection and alignment, leading to unprecedented speed and precision in fabricating TWT circuits. The new process reduces TWT production times from more than year to just weeks.
• Commercialization Support: Elve participated in DARPA’s Embedded Entrepreneur Initiative (EEI) for business expertise to refine market strategy and engage industry. Elve raised $15M in Series A funding, enabling the opening of a commercial manufacturing facility.

GOP defense appropriators spell out CR funding levels for weapons. Will the DoD listen?
Valerie Insinna, Breaking Defense

Congressional appropriators have outlined their proposed funding allocations within the fiscal year 2025 continuing resolution (CR), though the legal binding nature of these recommendations for the current administration is uncertain.

• Congressional Intent: Representatives Calvert and McConnell sent 181 pages of funding tables to Defense Secretary Hegseth to indicate their "congressional intent" for the FY25 CR.
• Uncertain Legality: The legal binding power of these tables, not formally part of the CR, is questionable, especially given the current administration's view on executive power
• R&D Downsizing: Major research and development efforts, such as Next Generation Air Dominance fighter jet and Collaborative Combat Aircraft drone, face significant cuts

USNS Wally Schirra (T-AKE 8) departs Hanwha Ocean shipyard after a seven-month overhaul at Gyeongsangnam-do, Republic of Korea, March 12, 2025. Hanwah Ocean Photo

Navy Supply Ship Completes First Large-Scale Maintenance at South Korean Shipyard
Aaron-Matthew Lariosa, USNI News

Hanwha Ocean has completed the large-scale maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) of naval vessel in South Korea, reducing downtime and costs while enhancing operational readiness.

• First In-Theater Overhaul: This seven-month overhaul at Hanwha Ocean's Geoje shipyard marks a significant step in the Navy's efforts to establish in-theater repair options within the Indo-Pacific.
• Extensive Maintenance: Over the seven-month period, Hanwha Ocean shipyard workers addressed 300 work items. This included tackling hull corrosion and the replacement of USNS Wally Schirra’s rudder.
• Reverse Engineering: Hanwha Ocean was able to reverse engineer certain components when schematics were unavailable, showcasing their "resilient supply chains, advanced automations and skilled workforce".

Hegseth ‘disestablishing’ Office of Net Assessment, Pentagon’s strategic analysis specialists
Valerie Insinna and Aaron Mehta, Breaking Defense

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has ordered the disestablishment of the Pentagon's Office of Net Assessment (ONA), a strategic analysis unit, by reassigning its employees and canceling its contracts, though a plan to rebuild the office according to his priorities is expected within 30 days.

• Personnel Reassignment: All civilian employees will be moved to other "mission critical positions" within the Department of Defense, and military personnel will return to their respective services for new assignments.
• Contract Termination: The Pentagon's top acquisition official has been instructed to terminate all contracts awarded for ONA and ONA-related requirements, likely impacting various DC think tanks and research organizations.
• Pentagon Statement: Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell announced the decision, stating it will ensure resources are focused on the most pressing national security challenges while maintaining accountability and efficiency.

Inside industry’s wishlist for a new national AI strategy
Alexandra Kelley, NextGov

Industry advocates and private sector companies have submitted their wishlists for a new national AI strategy. They generally support a pro-innovation approach that reinforces U.S. leadership in AI while calling for strategic government actions in areas like adoption, infrastructure, export controls, and responsible regulation.

These submissions, made during the open comment period for the Trump administration’s forthcoming Artificial Intelligence Action Plan, reveal common themes focused on maintaining American competitiveness and fostering a supportive environment for responsible AI development and deployment.

ARP and NPS News

Students exhibit their thesis research on the NPS campus during the March 2025 Graduate Student Research Showcase

March 2025 Graduates Present Research at Poster Showcase

Department of Defense Management (DDM) students gathered on Tuesday to present their thesis research findings to faculty, staff, NPS leadership, and student colleagues at the March 2025 Graduate Student Research Poster Showcase.

NPS students conduct research on issues of active concern for Navy and DOD stakeholders, and their findings have real-world operational impact. The quarterly poster show is organized by DDM and the Acquisition Research Program (ARP) to recognize the outstanding achievement of our graduating students.

Congratulations to our March 2025 graduates!

DDM Students Brief Navy Leaders on Thesis Research

Five graduating DDM students were selected to brief their thesis research to the Chief of Navy Personnel and the Deputy Commandant of Manpower and Reserve Affairs as part of the 35th Annual Manpower Systems Analysis Thesis Day at NPS.

• LT Allyson Franchi, USN
  Assignment Matters: Analyzing Organizational Drivers of First Term Attrition in the US Navy
  Advisors: Dr. Paul Lester and Dr. Yu-Chu Shen
• Capt Mason Hill, USMC
  The Right Stuff: Enhancing Navy and Marine Corps Promotion Boards
  Advisors: Dr. Erik Helzer and Dr. Marigee Bacolod
• Capt Dylan Scott, USMC
  USMC School and Course Choices and Success with Tuition Assistance: An Analysis of Participation and Outcomes 2014–2021
  Advisors: Dr. Tom Ahn and Dr. Latika Hartmann
• LT Travis Silvey, USN
  Are the Navy’s Top Medical Corps Physicians Leaving?
  Advisors: Dr. Yu-Chu Shen and Dr. Jesse Cunha
• GySgt Jacob Thornton, USMC
  Retaining Talent: Understanding the Causal Effects of the Blended Retirement System on Marine Corps Personnel Attrition
  Advisors: Dr. Tom Ahn and Dr. Jesse Cunha

NPS brings together faculty and students, industry stakeholders, service members, and military leaders to find solutions to the pressing problems faced by DOD and the fleet. The quality and relevance of our students' research is demonstrated by the interest and attention it ears from senior military leadership.

Congratulations to these warrior-scholars on their achievements!

Gunnery Sgt. Alyssa Falge, U.S. Marine Corps

2024 Fall Graduate Profile - Gunnery Sgt. Alyssa Falge, U.S. Marine Corps

“One thing I can take from what this experience has taught me is the ability to think with a strategic-level mindset,” said U.S. Marine Corps Gunnery Sgt. Alyssa Falge, who graduated from NPS’ Department of Defense Management with a master’s degree in logistics management.

• Capstone Research: Falge and her team utilized the Lean Launchpad entrepreneurship methodology to help Program Executive Office Integrated Warfare Systems (PEO IWS) identify root causes to critical acquisition challenges. Using a commercial artificial intelligence-enhanced database called Ask Sage, the team customized the knowledge database to specifically address the identified challenges facing PEO IWS acquisition strategies and processes.
• Impact: “NPS has definitely given me the skills to continue on with this endeavor and solve the complex problems I’m going to face at PEO IWS,” she said. “My team and I believe that with further tailoring this technology can benefit acquisition teams across the DOD.”

Learn more about Defense Management programs at NPS: https://nps.edu/web/ddm

Acquisition

Photo by Jeffrey Clayton on Unsplash

Don’t let ‘efficiency’ result in looser standards for defense contractors
Julia Gledhill, Breaking Defense

In response to a recent industry recommendation to eliminate Cost Accounting Standards (CAS) for contractors, Julia Gledhill of the Stimson Center argues that this elimination would likely lead to increased Pentagon waste and reduced accountability. CAS standards provide vital protections for taxpayers by ensuring costs are reasonably allocated and allowing the government to recoup misallocated funds.

• Cost-Based Contracts: CAS provides criteria for allocating costs to contracts priced based on actual or expected costs.
• GAAP Inadequate: Despite suggestions to the contrary, Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) serve a different purpose than CAS. The Government Accountability Office found GAAP insufficient for government contract cost determination in 1970.
• Billion Dollar Issues: The Defense Contract Management Agency reported over $3.1 billion in CAS compliance issues in 2020. Without CAS, the Pentagon would lose significant ability to hold contractors accountable.

Faster Acquisition Requires Simpler Requirements
Laura Heckman, National Defense

Overly complex requirements are a major cause of the slow and cumbersome defense acquisition process, according to exports at the National Defense Industrial Association’s Special Operations Symposium in February. Simplifying these requirements, along with fostering a culture of flexibility, innovation, and risk tolerance within both the Pentagon and Congress, is essential for faster acquisition.

• Complex burden: The defense acquisition process is significantly slowed by overly complicated requirements, which are described as an "enormous problem" by Representative Adam Smith. He illustrated this with an example of a ship worker who told him that the requirements for painting a ship's underwater section were 1,200 pages long.
• Agility Is Essential: Panelist contented that requirements need to be adaptable to keep pace with evolving technology and threats.
• Radical Simplification: Panelists advocated for a significant reduction in the volume of requirements, possibly by implementing an automatic re-look and re-justification process within the Defense Department to identify and eliminate outdated or unnecessary requirements.

How 2016 NDAA transformed OTAs into key defense contracting tool
Anastasia Obis, Federal News Network

The 2016 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) significantly transformed Other Transaction Authority (OTA) into a vital defense contracting tool. It allowed the Department of Defense (DoD) to bypass traditional, cumbersome regulations and engage more effectively with non-traditional contractors for both prototype development and follow-on production.

• Prototype to Production: The legislation authorized the use of OTAs to move innovative technologies from prototype development into full production, particularly by engaging with non-traditional defense contractors and small businesses.
• Increased Usage & Ongoing Evaluation: The use of OTAs has significantly increased, leading to substantial spending, and is currently under further scrutiny by the GAO, A GAO report due in the summer of 2025 will examine the use of OTAs, including the nature of recipients.

Interview With Space Development Agency’s Chief of Contracts, Christopher Glista
Emily Ashcom and Benjamin Tyree, Defense Acquisition Magazine

As the inaugural Chief of Contracts, Christopher Glista built SDA's contracting cell from scratch and manages its daily operations. Glista's efforts have been crucial in establishing SDA's contracting organization and navigating the complexities of modern space acquisition to deliver capabilities at speed.

• Nontraditional Engagement: SDA actively seeks to expand its performer base by engaging nontraditional space companies through initiatives like the HALO program, which funds prototype mission demonstrations.
• Commercial Leverage: SDA aims to utilize commercial technology as much as possible, particularly for space vehicle buses, while acknowledging the need for backward compatibility with existing DoD systems.

Innovation

A team of Department of Defense drone operators and experts test the technical capabilities of various Uncrewed Aerial Systems (UAS) during a Defense Innovation Unit led prize challenge to identify platforms, components, and capabilities for Blue UAS, which clears and validates flying platforms are safe to fly, cyber-secure, and meet DOD requirements, at Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center, Twentynine Palms, California, on Nov. 2-6, 2024. (DOD photo by Devon Bistarkey, Defense Innovation Unit)

10 years in, the Defense Innovation Unit needs to pivot
Tom Temin, Federal News Network

The Defense Innovation Unit (DIU), after a decade of operation, is transitioning to its 3.0 phase, shifting its focus from prototyping commercial technologies to scaling them for production to address significant military needs.

• Streamlined Acquisition: DIU utilizes Commercial Solutions Openings and Other Transaction Authorities (OTAs), which allow for a direct pathway from prototype award to production without further competition if a military department adopts the technology.
• GAO Urges Metrics: The GAO recommends that DIU develop better performance metrics to assess the effectiveness of products in the production phase.
• Ecosystem Coordination: DIU now has the responsibility to coordinate innovation efforts across different military service organizations.
• GAO Report: Defense Innovation Unit: Actions Needed to Assess Progress and Further Enhance Collaboration

Eye on the Grid: Navy Develops ‘MOSAICS’ to Cyber-Defend Critical Infrastructure
Steve Ghiringhelli, NIWC Atlantic Public Affairs Office, U.S. Navy

MOSAICS is a novel approach in cybersecurity and systems engineering developed by Naval Information Warfare Center (NIWC) Atlantic to defend critical industrial control systems (ICS) that operate vital infrastructure like power and water treatment plants.

• DoD Building Code: MOSAICS could soon be implemented into the DoD's Unified Facilities Criteria (UFC) 1-200-01, the DoD Building Code.
• Enhanced Security: UFC specifications would contribute to a comprehensive set of standards ensuring the safety, security, durability, and functionality of critical ICS in military facilities.x
• National Impact: MOSAICS has potential applications across national infrastructures beyond the DoD, including the power grid and water treatment plants.

Defense & Strategy

A U.S. Marine Corps F/A-18D Hornet aircraft with Marine Fighter attack Squadron 115, Marine Aircraft Group 12, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, takes off from Kadena Air Base, Okinawa, Japan, July 17, 2023 during Northern Edge (NE) 23-2. As the stand-in force aviation combat element, 1st MAW utilized NE 23-2 to establish robust kill webs and bridge Marine aviation command and control (C2), sensor, and shooter capabilities across the joint force. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. David Getz)

Experts: ‘Kudos’ to Air Force Progress on Kill Webs, but Some Problems Persist
Shaun Waterman, Air & Space Forces Magazine

The Air Force has achieved notable progress in developing and fielding kill webs and in understanding how to disrupt adversarial kill webs; however, persistent challenges related to programmatic silos, high classification levels, and the integration of cutting-edge technologies with industry partners need to be addressed for continued advancement.

• Organizational Silos: Partnership with industry is hampered by silos across programs and high classification levels. Program silos lead to costly, similar but different solutions requested by various platforms.
• Classification Limits: High classification hinders training and operational analysis using real threat data.

The Navy Needs a 180-Degree Pivot: Embracing Autonomy and AI for Maritime Dominance
John Ferrari, Breaking Defense

Retired US Army Maj. Gen. John Ferrari argues that the U.S. Navy must execute a 180-degree pivot by divesting from manned aircraft and large surface vessels in favor of autonomous systems and AI to ensure future maritime dominance. This transformation necessitates embracing mass production of smaller, specialized unmanned platforms and a cultural shift within the Navy.

• Current Incapabilities: The present Navy cannot operate effectively in three simultaneous theaters and lacks sufficient resources for sustained combat.
• Rapid Adoption: Producing drones at scale is easier than building complex manned aircraft. Sea drone adoption will be rapid due to AI and lessons learned from aerial drones.
• Combat Effectiveness: Recent conflicts demonstrate the battlefield impact of swarming and specialized drones. The focus should be on thousands of autonomous vessels instead of the 355-ship target.

Ep. 36: Contested Logistics: Repairing America's Blind Spot
Noah Sheinbaum, Crossing the Valley

In this interview, Phillip Buckendorf, the CEO and founder of Air Space Intelligence (ASI), argues that contested logistics from the homeland to forward positions is an overlooked vulnerability in the US defense ecosystem.

• Predictive Displays: ASI's core innovation is the transition from displays showing current conditions to simulations predicting future states, enabling optimization against future scenarios
• User Adoption: The bigger challenge in the shift to predictive data displays is not technical, but human. Products and interfaces must help operators adapt to new decision frameworks.

Industry

The first C-130J-30 Super Hercules aircraft being built for the U.S. Navy’s E-130J program. (Photo by David L. Key, Lockheed Martin)

U.S. Must Re-Posture its Defense Industrial Base
Jennifer Stewart, National Defense

National Defense Industrial Association's (NDIA) "Vital Signs 2025" report argues that the U.S. defense industrial base is misaligned with national strategic objectives. This misalignment necessitates a re-posturing to enhance readiness and address great power competition through a balanced approach involving both traditional and non-traditional contractors.

• Regulatory Differences: Policymakers struggle to reduce entry and retention barriers for small and non-traditional companies, like regulatory compliance costs and IP concerns. Meanwhile, traditional contractors face increasing scrutiny while being burdened by regulations that stifle speed and increase costs.
• Zero-Sum Fallacy: Pitting traditional against non-traditional contractors is a flawed approach. The focus instead should be on reducing regulatory burdens and sharing acquisition risk.
• Incentivizing Business Decisions: Companies are expected to de-risk supply chains and rapidly increase before contract awards, but acquisition strategies don't sufficiently incentivize this.
• Recommendations: The report recommends streamlining the acquisition processes, reducing regulatory burdens, improving requirements discipline, and balancing risk between government and industry to foster innovation and increase capacity across both traditional and non-traditional contractors.
• Full Report: Vital Signs 2025

DIU to start field testing quantum sensors in tough conditions
Sydney J. Freedberg Jr., Breaking Defense

DIU has awarded contracts to 18 vendors in order to transition promising quantum sensor technology from development to real-world military deployment by identifying mature solutions, ruggedizing them, and addressing any issues through practical testing.

• Early Field Testing: The DIU's strategy prioritizes early field testing of less-than-perfect ("80 percent") solutions rather than waiting for fully optimized lab prototypes.
• Focus on Deployability: A key reason for this field-testing approach is to evaluate the ruggedness and deployability of the quantum sensors in meaningful operational packages. This involves integrating the sensor with necessary subsystems to see how it functions in actual deployment scenarios and challenging real-world conditions .

‘It Works’: Space Force Expands Surveillance-as-a-Service Program After Successful Pilot
Greg Hadley, Air & Space Forces Magazine

The U.S. Space Force's Tactical Surveillance, Reconnaissance, and Tracking (TacSRT) program is a now-proven marketplace utilizing commercial satellite intelligence to provide readily accessible and unclassified surveillance data to military commands and allies for various operational needs.

• Commercial Intel: TacSRT functions as a marketplace connecting commercial data providers with military users seeking specific information
• Demand Driven: Combatant commands' high demand for information, exceeding the capacity of traditional intelligence assets, fueled the need for TacSRT.
• Pilot Success: TacSRT imagery monitored security during the construction of the humanitarian relief pier in Gaza, providing daily, unclassified products to all concerned parties.

Congress & Government

The aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75), front, passes the aircraft carrier USS George H. W. Bush (CVN 77) as it departs Norfolk Naval Shipyard after completing a 10-month regularly scheduled extended carrier incremental availability. (US Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Steven Edgar)

New bill would create commission to investigate state of American shipbuilding
Justin Katz, Breaking Defense

A bipartisan group of House lawmakers has introduced the "Save Our Shipyards Act" to establish a congressional commission tasked with investigating the condition of the U.S. maritime industry and formulating actionable policy recommendations to revitalize the maritime industrial base for the American military. This initiative acknowledges a recognized crisis in American shipbuilding and aims to provide a focused approach to addressing the challenges.

Senate Confirms New Deputy Defense Secretary
Matthew Olay, DOD News

Stephen A. Feinberg has been confirmed as the new Deputy Defense Secretary, taking on responsibilities for the DOD's daily operations and budget management with a stated focus on financial accountability and bolstering the defense industrial base. His confirmation follows a Senate hearing where he outlined his priorities, including improving the Pentagon's audit process and strengthening ties with the private sector.

Research

Nick Ut/Getty Images

Enhancing Defense Industrial Cooperation Between Australia and the United States
Cynthia Cook, et al, Center for Strategic and International Studies

This report from the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS)examines the increasing importance of the alliance between Australia and the U.S. in the face of evolving global threats, particularly in the Indo-Pacific region. The authors argue that closer collaboration between the two country's defense industries is crucial for deterring adversaries and explore avenues beyond traditional government sales to foster cross-national partnerships.

Full Report

Safe and Effective: Advancing Department of Defense Test and Evaluation for AI and Autonomous Systems
Josh Wallin, Center for a New American Security

This report from Center for a New American Security emphasizes the urgent need for robust test and evaluation (T&E) frameworks within the DOD to keep pace with the rapid advancements and unique challenges presented by artificial intelligence (AI) and autonomous systems. The study offers a range of recommendations across the system lifecycle to ensure these technologies are deployed safely and effectively in military operations.

Full Report

Prioritizing Maintenance Restructuring and Resourcing for Autonomous Systems
Maj. Dennis A. Vinett, U.S. Army, Military Review

The adoption of autonomous systems by the U.S. Army necessitates a fundamental restructuring and increased resourcing of maintenance support. This support currently lags behind acquisition efforts, risking the full realization of these new technologies' combat potential. The author recommends a holistic approach involving senior leadership, tailored training, and a blending of military and industry best practices.

Mission-Critical Information Technology: Agencies Are Monitoring Selected Acquisitions for Cybersecurity and Privacy Risks
Government Accountability Office

This GAO report identifies the critical challenges federal agencies face in acquiring essential IT systems, often experiencing cost overruns, delays, and performance issues, with a significant number of these mission-critical acquisitions also facing escalating risks in cybersecurity and information privacy. Among the 16 critical IT acquisitions reviewed, several within the DOD are highlighted as essential to national security.

Opportunities

U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Luis Andujar lands a Skydio X2D SUAS during a training exercise Nov. 15, 2024 at Fort Indiantown Gap, Pa. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Sgt. 1st Class Shane Smith)

Sharpening AI warfighting advantage on the battlefield
DARPA

DARPA's Securing Artificial Intelligence for Battlefield Effective Robustness (SABER) program is soliciting proposals for a red-teaming framework to proactively identify and address vulnerabilities against adversarial attacks in realistic conditions. The goal is to provide warfighters with trustworthy AI capabilities and cultivate a Department of Defense-wide culture of security for AI-enabled systems.

More Information: SABER Program Page
RFP: Securing Artificial Intelligence for Battlefield Effective Robustness (SABER)

Defense Logistics Agency Develops AI Tool to Monitor Supply Chain Risk
Josh Luckenbaugh, National Defense

The Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) is developing an artificial intelligence tool to proactively monitor and mitigate risks within its complex supply chains. This tool aims to provide enhanced visibility into supplier performance and potential challenges, ultimately ensuring the timely delivery of essential supplies to warfighters.

Request for Solutions: Artificial Intelligence (AI) for financial reporting and audit processes

Events

The Defense Department’s 8 Percent Challenge: What to Cut and Where to Invest
21 March 2025
Virtual

DoD Modernization Exchange 2025
25-26 March 2025
Virtual

AUSA Global Force Symposium and Exposition
25-27 March 2025
Huntsville, AL

Software-defined warfare: A blueprint for sustaining a competitive military edge
27 March 2025
Washington, DC

TEVCON: Technology, Energy, Vehicle Conference
2-4 April 2025
San Diego, CA

Technology & National Security Conference
4-5 April 2025
Cambridge, MA

Building Critical Mineral Security for a Sustainable Future
30 April 2025
Washington, DC or Virtual

Sea Air Space
6-9 April 2025
National Harbor, Maryland

APEX
23-24 April 2025
National Harbor, Maryland

2025 State of the Space Industrial Base Conference and SSIB Workshops
29 April - 2 May 2025
Albuquerque, NM

Creating Synergy for Informed Change - Transitioning Technology
22nd Annual Acquisition Research Symposium & Innovation Summit
7-8 May 2025
Virtual

2025 ASNE Intelligent Ships Symposium
12-14 May 2025
Philadelphia, PA

DLA Supply Chain Alliance Conference & Exhibition
11-12 June 2025
Richmond, VA

Training & Simulation Industry Symposium (TSIS) 2025
17-18 June 2025
Orlando, FL

MODSIM World 2025
18-20 August 2025
Norfolk, VA

I/ITSEC 2025: Optimizing Training: Ensuring Operational Dominance
1-4 December 2025
Orlando, FL

One more thing...

Graduates of the Leadership Education and Development (LEAD) program pose beneath a replica of the Navy's famous "Dont Give Up the Ship" battle flag hanging in Memorial Hall at the US Naval Academy. LEAD is a one-year Masters program offered by NPS in collaboration with the Naval Academy to develop effective warfighter leaders in the Navy and Marine Corps.

"Dont Give Up The Ship" Has Become a Symbol of Navy Grit, Courage, and Tenacity

A storied Navy battle flag with the motto "Dont Give Up the Ship" hangs in Memorial Hall on the campus of the U.S. Naval Academy (USNA) -- or at least, a replica does. The original flag -- which dates to the War of 1812 -- is now preserved in the USNA Museum.

"Dont give up the ship. Fight her ‘til she sinks" was the final order of Captain James Lawrence of the USS Chesapeake as he lay wounded during a fierce engagement with the British HMS Shannon in 1813. Despite his command to fight on, the Chesapeake was ultimately captured.

Lawrence's courageous last words deeply inspired his friend and fellow naval officer, Oliver Hazard Perry. When Perry was given command of the American squadron on Lake Erie, he honored Lawrence by naming his flagship the USS Lawrence and by carrying a battle flag bearing Lawrence's defiant motto "Dont Give Up The Ship."

This flag flew proudly during the crucial Battle of Lake Erie in September 1813. Even when the Lawrence was heavily damaged and Perry was forced to transfer to the USS Niagara, the spirit of the flag endured, contributing to the American victory and solidifying "Don't Give Up The Ship" as a rallying cry for the U.S. Navy.

Today, the "Dont Give Up The Ship" flag serves as a potent symbol of the enduring spirit, resilience, and unwavering dedication expected of those serving in the U.S. Navy. The flag connects current and future sailors to the bravery and sacrifice of their predecessors, inspiring them to persevere through adversity in the face of challenge, just as Captain Lawrence and Commodore Perry did.

Learn more here: How 'Don't Give Up the Ship' Became a US Navy Rallying Cry

Maureen Lauder, PhD, Communications Manager
Karey Shaffer, MBA, Program Manager
Acquisition Research Program
Naval Postgraduate School
e: ARPEditor@nps.edu 

Note: Article summaries were generated with the help of AI tools.

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NEED TO KNOW

Acquisition Research Program Newsletter

March 14, 2025       —       Issue 234

NOW VIRTUAL: Creating Synergy for Informed Change: Transitioning Technology to the Warfighter

Join us online for NPS' 22nd Annual Acquisition Research Symposium and Innovation Summit, May 7-8, 2025!

This free, unclassified DoD-sponsored event will feature leading experts discussing critical topics in defense acquisition and innovation, including technology transitions, agile processes, industrial base strengthening, and continuous innovation.

The urgency around acquisition reform is higher than ever -- and the field is evolving rapidly. Join this important conversation about the present and future of defense acquisition.

This Week's Top Stories 

An aerial photo of the Pentagon and Arlington, Va., Oct. 28, 2018. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Quinn Hurt/Released)

Pentagon gearing up to train personnel on new ‘default’ software buying approach
Brandi Vincent, Defense Scoop

The Pentagon is getting ready to provide training and resources to acquisition officials on how to use the newly mandated Software Acquisition Pathway.

• Mandated Software Acquisition Pathway: All DOD components have been instructed to use the Software Acquisition Pathway (SWP) when purchasing software for business and weapon systems.
• Prioritized Commercial Solutions: The directive emphasizes the use of commercial solutions opening and Other Transaction authority as the preferred options for soliciting and awarding contracts.
• Support and Guidance: The DOD plans to provide the necessary training, resources, and guidance to acquisition professionals at all levels to ensure the successful implementation of the new software buying approach.
• Implementation Plan: The undersecretary of defense for acquisition and sustainment, in coordination with the Defense Innovation Unit chief, is tasked with developing and submitting an implementation plan for the directive.

Finding Adversaries Hiding in the Defense Department’s Supply Chains
Christine Michienzi, War on the Rocks

This commentary by Christine Michienzi highlights the critical need for the Department of Defense to gain better visibility into its complex and often opaque supply chains.

• Reverse Engineering: Current efforts to understand supply chains involve reverse engineering, which occurs after the supply chains are established. This makes it difficult to capture accurate supplier information and leaves DOD vulnerable to adversarial actions and disruptions.
• Blockchain solution: The author proposes a shift towards capturing supplier information upfront during system development, using a distributed ledger and blockchain technology to secure data and ensure supplier control over access.

The U.S. Navy cruiser USS Lake Erie launches a Standard Missile-3 in May 2013. Navy photo.

In 15 months, the Navy fired more air defense missiles than it did in the last 30 years
Jeff Schogol, Task and Purpose

The U.S. Navy experienced intense combat in the Red Sea between October 2023 and January 2025, expending a large number of air defense missiles and other munitions. This extensive use of weaponry has led to a critical need to replenish supplies, potentially impacting the Navy's readiness for future conflicts.

• Costly Engagements: It's estimated that the Navy expended over $1 billion in interceptors to counter drone and missile threats.
• Stockpile concerns: The Navy's extensive use of air defense missiles in the Red Sea has depleted its munitions stockpile. Retired Navy Cmdr. Bryan Clark, of the Hudson Institute, suggests that at the current rate of expenditure, the Navy could face critical weapon shortages in a conflict.
• Limited Production: Clark notes that current weapons are too difficult to build for the industrial base because they’re too specialized with a bespoke supply chain and are manufactured by hand at low production rates.
• Alternative weapons: Faced with missile shortages and close-range drone threats, the Navy has resorted to using 5-inch gun rounds to down Houthi drones. These rounds are less expensive and more effective against drones that fly too low or close to ships for missile engagement.

China’s shipbuilding dominance a national security risk for US: Report
Didi Tang, AP/NavyTimes

A new report from the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) contends that the United States faces significant national security risks due to China's dominance in the shipbuilding industry, which has grown rapidly in the last two decades.

• Production Imbalance: In 2024, a single Chinese shipbuilder produced more commercial vessels by tonnage than the entire U.S. shipbuilding industry has since World War II.
• Military-Civil Fusion: China utilizes a "military-civil fusion" strategy, where commercial and defense sectors are integrated.
• Global Sales: China State Shipbuilding Corporation (CSSC) sells a significant portion of its commercial production to U.S. allies, indirectly funding China's naval modernization.
• Full Report: Ship Wars: Confronting China’s Dual-Use Shipbuilding Empire

Consultant tapped to lead industrial policy as Pentagon ponders acquisition reform
Patrick Tucker, Defense One

Mike Cadenazzi, a former Navy intelligence officer and EY managing partner (and NPS graduate), has been nominated as the Trump administration's first assistant defense secretary for industrial-base policy. He arrives in the midst of a widespread reform defense acquisition and accelerate the procurement of newer technology to counter well-funded adversaries.

NPS and TOPGUN Launch New Master of Warfare Operations Degree
MCSN Abreen Padeken, NPS Public Affairs

The Naval Postgraduate School (NPS) and the Naval Aviation Warfighting Development Center (NAWDC) have partnered to launch a new Master of Warfare Operations (MWO) degree program, designed to provide warfighters with an interdisciplinary perspective through flexible, distance-learning.

• Initial student cohort: The MWO program is available initially to a select cohort of TOPGUN students and instructors.
• Curriculum: The MWO program covers advanced topics such as strategic competition, combat systems analysis and statistics, naval tactics and technologies, and space systems fundamentals. Participants will explore unmanned autonomous systems, orbital mechanics, and U.S. space policy, gaining a deeper understanding of the political dynamics and strategic ambitions of key global adversaries.
• Flexible learning: MWO was developed as an innovative, asynchronous, distance-learning curriculum with stackable certificates providing flexibility and delivery at the point of need for warfighters. The program allows a timeframe of 5 years to finish.
• Fleet readiness: Delivering instruction directly to the Fleet ensures operating forces are highly educated and ready to deploy on a moment’s notice.

ARP and NPS News

The Acting Secretary of the Navy, the Honorable Sean J. Stackley, introduces himself to Gunnery Sgt. William Algarin-Mendoza, member of the parade staff, during a Friday Evening Parade at Marine Barracks Washington D.C., July 9, 2017. The guest of honor for the parade was Sean J. Stackley, and the hosting official was the Commandant of the Marine Corps, Gen. Robert B. Neller. (Official Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Robert Knapp/Released)

Sean Stackley, former Assistant Secretary of the Navy (Research, Development & Acquisition) (ASN(RDA)), to speak at upcoming 22nd Annual Acquisition Research Symposium and Innovation Summit

ARP is pleased to announce the Honorable Sean J. Stackley as a keynote speaker at the our upcoming Symposium and Innovation Summit, Creating Synergy for Informed Change: Transitioning Technology to the Warfighter.

A former Acting Secretary of the Navy, Mr. Stackley has extensive experience in defense acquisition. He served 9 years as the ASN(RDA), where he oversaw a budget of more than $50 billion. Prior to his time as ASN(RDA) he worked with Congress as professional staff member of the Senate Armed Services Committee.

Stackley has also served as a program manager, production officer, and project Naval architect for different major ship programs, giving him the unusual experience of playing a principal role in the design, construction, test, and delivery of three first-of-class warships.

After the leaving DOD, Mr. Stackley held multiple senior leadership roles at L3Harris Technologies.

The breadth and depth of Mr. Stackley's experience give him a rare perspective on the field of acquisitions. We look forward to his unique insights on historical acquisition reform efforts, the current acquisitions landscape, and the direction and future of the field.

To maximize participation and provide greater flexibility to our participants, we will offer this year's Symposium and Innovation Summit in a virtual format. Register here to attend.

From Astronauts to CubeSats, Space Education and Research at NPS Pushes Boundaries
Dan Linehan, Defense Acquisition Magazine

The Naval Postgraduate School (NPS) plays a crucial role in space education and research for the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps, offering programs from astronaut training to CubeSat development, and contributing significantly to defense technology and national security.

• Rich history: NPS has a strong space program for engineers and operational students, and continues to be at the forefront of space engineering and operations.
• Astronaut alumni: NPS counts 44 NASA astronauts among its alumni, the most of any graduate school in the U.S..
• Hands-on experience: NPS emphasizes hands-on experience, with students building, testing, and operating satellites to support defense requirements.
• Diverse Space Programs: NPS is involved in diverse space programs and research including CubeSat development, spacecraft robotics, and trajectory optimization.

NPS Welcomes Japan’s Former Navy Chief as Inaugural International Fellow
Javier Chagoya, NPS Public Affairs

The Naval Postgraduate School (NPS) welcomed retired Adm. Sakai Ryo, former Chief of Staff of the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF), as its inaugural International Fellow, enriching the institution with his vast knowledge and experience in Indo-Pacific operations and naval strategy.

• Program Purposes: The International Fellows program aims to provide insights into national security issues faced by partners, ensure appreciation of their military concepts and capabilities, and provide access to advisors and mentors during wargames and exercises.
• Sakai's Expertise: Sakai is a subject matter expert in operations and plans for the Indo-Pacific region. He has experience utilizing advances in operations and tactics with naval forces, which he can share with NPS students. He also earned a master’s degree in public policy from the Harvard Kennedy School and completed the Command Course at the U.S. Naval War College.

Congratulations to winners of the NPS Winter Quarter Awards!

The Department of Defense Management (DDM) is well-represented in the winners of the this year's Winter Quarter Awards.

Six DDM students will be honored at an NPS ceremony at 15:00, March 18, on the Herrmann Hall Quarterdeck:

• Capt John Fiorelli, USMC, has been awarded the Louis D. Liskin Award for Excellence in Defense Management.
• LT Allyson Franchi, USN, has won the Chief of Naval Personnel Award for Academic Excellence in Manpower Systems Analysis.
• Capt Mason Hill, USMC, received the Louis D. Liskin Award for Excellence in Defense Management.
• Lt Shinya Matsuda, Japan Maritime Self Defense Force, won the Department of Defense Management Faculty Outstanding International Student Award.
• Maj Ryan Montgomery, USMC, has been recognized with the Distinguished Professor Kenneth J. Euske Dean’s Medal for Innovative Contribution to National Defense and the Department of Defense Management.
• LT Stephan Munari, USN, received the Naval Postgraduate School Superior Service Award.

These achievements reflect the hard work and commitment DDM students bring to their studies. Congratulations to these outstanding warrior-scholars!

Acquisition

Midjourney

It’s Time to Build the Digital Century Series
Ben McNally, War on the Rocks

The U.S. Air Force is facing a critical juncture in its fighter acquisition strategy as it risks falling behind China in fielding a sixth-generation fighter jet due to slow decision-making and a debate over the future role of crewed aircraft. The author argues for the urgent resurrection of the Digital Century Series acquisition strategy, emphasizing its potential to rapidly develop and field new aircraft, incentivize industry, and maintain American air superiority in an increasingly unpredictable world.

• 1950s inspiration: The Digital Century Series approach is inspired by a period in the 1950s when the Air Force fielded six different tactical aircraft in a three-year period.
• Rapid, iterative acquisition: The Digital Century Series strategy is a process-centric approach focused on quickly developing and fielding new aircraft in smaller batches with frequent design iterations, moving away from long-term, product-focused programs.
• Incentivizing innovation: The strategy aims to incentivize industry to build new aircraft more frequently by competing designs and shortening service lifespans, fostering a more dynamic and responsive industrial base.

Advancing DoD Operations With Software Acquisition Reform
Defense Innovation Unit

The recent Pentagon announcement mandating the default use of the Software Acquisitions Pathway (SWP) and Commercial Solutions Openings (CSO) and Other Transactions (OT) authorities is important step in speeding DOD's ability to get innovative technology to the hands of warfighters.

The Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) has been using a proven Commercial Solutions Opening (CSO) process to successfully develop and field new technologies, and the unit is eager to help scale this process across DOD.

• Problem-Driven Approach: DIU projects start with a problem statement from a mission partner that commercial industry can solve.
• Rapid Prototyping: DIU utilizes its CSO process and OT authority to award prototype agreements, aiming for a 60-90 day timeframe, with a current average around 120 days.
• Easy Follow-On: Following a successful prototype, any DoD entity can directly enter into non-competitive production contracts.
• OT Benefits Over FAR: Using DIU’s OT-based CSO offers advantages like negotiable terms, no government accounting standards, no FAR Part 33 protest applicability, and streamlined follow-on production.

How to deliver more secure capabilities to the warfighter, faster
Daisy Thornton, Federal News Network

This article discusses the critical need to rethink how the Department of Defense delivers secure technological capabilities to warfighters, emphasizing speed and cybersecurity from the outset.

• Cybersecurity First: The impulse to balance innovation and cybersecurity is incorrect; they must be pursued together. Cybersecurity must be a primary consideration from the initial stages of innovation.
• Integrated Teams: All stakeholders, including operators, acquirers, resource sponsors, and industry partners, need to collaborate from the beginning.
• Operator Focus: Capabilities should be designed with the end-users (operators and maintainers) in mind, ensuring ease of understanding, use, and repair.

Collaborative Combat Drones Designed From Ground Up To Do Logistics Differently
Joseph Trevithick, The War Zone

The U.S. Air Force's Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) are being developed with a new emphasis on streamlined logistics and maintenance through the use of commercial components and designs tailored for Agile Combat Employment (ACE) operations, aiming for greater operational flexibility and reduced support burdens.

• Revolutionary Logistics: CCAs are designed with fundamentally different maintenance, logistics, and sustainment concepts, prioritizing commercial parts and ACE principles. Designs incorporate features like condition-based maintenance and easily replaceable units to reduce the maintenance burden in the field.
• Simplified Ground Support: CCAs aim to minimize the need for specialized ground support equipment, with designs like all-electric start and C-130 transportability in mind. Increased autonomous capabilities will reduce the required deployed footprint and support personnel.

Innovation

iStock illustration

Israeli Startups Investigate Mind-Machine Interfaces for Defense Applications
Stew Magnuson, National Defense

Israeli startups actively exploring mind-machine interfaces for defense applications.

• Non-invasive thought control: The focus is on developing non-surgical technologies, like skin patches, that could allow soldiers to control drones and other equipment using only their thoughts.
• Dual-use potential: Researchers are also investigating neurotechnology for applications such as treating PTSD, enhancing training, and even monitoring and managing soldiers' mental states in real-time.

No sailors in sight: DARPA launches warship designed ‘from the ground up’ to be truly unmanned
Justin Katz, Breaking Defense

DARPA has launched Defiant (USX-1), a novel 180-foot warship meticulously engineered from its inception to operate entirely without human personnel.

• Autonomous Operations: The No Manning Required Ship (NOMARS) program aims to create a ship capable of long-duration autonomous operation at sea.
• No Human Provisions: Unlike many current unmanned surface vessels (USV), NOMARS has been designed with no provision or expectation for humans on board. This distinguishes it from "optionally manned ships" which still include spaces for human life.
• Significant Advantages: DARPA anticipates significant advantages from this approach, including reduced size and cost. greater hydrodynamic efficiency, and improved survivability.

The Real Threat of Chinese AI: Why the United States Needs to Lead the Open-Source Race
Jared Dunnmon, Foreign Affairs

China's rapid advancements in open-source AI, exemplified by DeepSeek's powerful and low-cost models, present a significant threat to U.S. leadership, necessitating a strategic shift towards supporting and promoting American open-source alternatives and bolstering the domestic AI ecosystem. This competition extends beyond economic potential to influence norms, values, and even the underlying semiconductor industry.

• Openness Advantage: The open-source nature of DeepSeek's models allows for free download, use, modification, and building upon, contributing to their rapid adoption globally compared to proprietary American models.
• U.S. Response Urged: The United States needs a much bigger push to develop and deploy its own open-source LLMs, supported by government incentives, investment, and collaboration across sectors.
• Chip Ecosystem Threat: The widespread adoption of cost-effective Chinese LLMs could incentivize the use of Chinese chips like Huawei's Ascend, potentially eroding Western dominance in chip design and manufacturing.

Defense & Strategy

A soldier flies a Red Cat quadcopter in this artist’s rendering. (Red Cat)

Army to soldiers: Get small drones back in the air, don’t worry about the red tape (as much)
Ashley Roque, Breaking Defense

The US Army is taking steps to encourage greater use of small drones by easing the procedures for handling their loss, aiming to reduce soldier and commander apprehension about the time-consuming investigations that have previously followed such incidents.

• Burdensome Investigations: Losing or breaking a drone currently triggers a full investigation (FLIPL) to determine liability. These investigations can be more expensive than the drone itself, consuming significant administrative time and salaries.
• Acceptable Losses: The Army aims to build "muscle memory" where writing off lost drones in combat missions becomes an accepted practice.

Achieving “peace through strength” in the 2020s
Michael E. O’Hanlon, Brookings Institute

To maintain "peace through strength" in the 2020s amidst rising great-power competition and coordinated adversaries, the United States needs to adapt its defense strategy and budget by focusing on deterring multiple threats simultaneously, strengthening its industrial base, and accelerating technological advancements.

• Industrial Strength: It is essential to strengthen the U.S. defense industrial base, stockpile munitions, and improve surge capacity.
• Accelerate Technology: The U.S. must accelerate the acquisition of new technologies, particularly unmanned systems, and improve basing infrastructure.
• Integrated Deterrence: Utilizing economic power alongside military might is crucial for deterring adversaries.

Unpreparedness is a Choice
Shawn P. Creamer, Small Wars Journal

The United States and its allies are currently unprepared for a potential multi-theater general war against a growing coalition of authoritarian powers due to decades of strategic misjudgments and underinvestment. This necessitates an urgent and comprehensive national mobilization effort across government, industry, and its alliance network to re-establish deterrence and ensure the defense of free world interests.

• Logistics Vulnerability: The U.S. faces critical weaknesses in logistics and power projection capabilities, with aging infrastructure and reliance on potentially unavailable commercial support.
• Industrial Insufficiency: The national industrial capacity is brittle and unable to meet the surge demands of a protracted, high-intensity war, as highlighted by supply chain issues and the war in Ukraine.
• Revise Defense Strategy: The National Defense Strategy must account for the prospect of a protracted, global general war, potentially returning to a multi-theater war strategy including the Homeland.

Make America test again: How rapid, iterative testing will advance hypersonic development
A.J. Piplica, Space News

To regain leadership in hypersonic technology and counter adversaries effectively, the United States must urgently shift to a strategy of rapid, iterative development and testing, drawing inspiration from historical aerospace successes and the modern commercial space sector. This approach involves frequent prototyping, real-world testing, and addressing critical limitations in testing infrastructure and regulatory processes to accelerate learning and field viable hypersonic systems.

Industry

A row of Guided Bomb Unit 32s lie on a munitions assembly conveyer at Langley Air Force Base, Va., March 5, 2013. The productions section of the Munitions Flight is responsible for providing munitions to the flight line. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Kayla Newman/Released)

Exploit America’s commercial strengths to mobilize weapons production
Dan Patt, Breaking Defense

A new report from the Hudson Institute argues that to address depleted munitions inventories and ensure the ability to deter conflict, the Department of Defense should leverage America's commercial power by prioritizing scalable and adaptable weapon designs, embracing contract manufacturing, and capitalizing on the nation's digital strengths. This strategic shift away from traditional, bespoke systems towards modular designs and commercial production methods is essential for rapidly producing and updating the necessary munitions in a cost-effective manner.

Full Report: Ending Self-Imposed Scarcity: Exploiting America’s Commercial Strengths to Mobilize Weapons Production
 

China bans more US defense firms
Leilani Chavez, Defense News

China has expanded its list of banned US defense firms, citing national sovereignty and security concerns, further escalating trade tensions between the two nations. This action by China includes halting economic activities, blocking imports, and prohibiting new investments for the listed companies.

When It Comes to Submarines, Australia Is Going to Be Left High and Dry
Peter Briggs, War on the Rocks

Australia's AUKUS submarine plan faces significant risks of failure due to US production shortfalls and UK program delays, potentially leaving Australia without a viable submarine capability. The author argues that a more practical and cost-effective solution lies in the mature French Suffren-class submarine. This alternative offers a more certain path to maintaining Australia's undersea defense capabilities while still allowing for cooperation within the broader AUKUS framework.

Australian Submarine Agency Strategy Document: Australia’s AUKUS Submarine Industry Strategy

CSR Report: AUKUS and Indo-Pacific Security
 

Congress & Government

The attack submarine USS Hampton enters Dry Dock 1 at Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, Maine, March 8, 2025. Branden Bourque, Navy

The State of U.S. Shipbuilding Hearing Testimony
U.S. Naval Institute Staff, USNI News

The Senate Armed Service Committee heard testimony this week on the Navy's fiscal year 2025 shipbuilding plan. The Navy's fiscal year 2025 shipbuilding plan aims to significantly expand the fleet to achieve a 381-ship goal with more distributed firepower, at a substantial cost, while acknowledging a near-term decrease in fleet size and the persistent challenge of maintenance delays.

• Brett Seidle, Acting, Assistant Secretary of the Navy (Research, Development and Acquisition): Statement Before the Seapower and Power Projection Forces Subcommittee of the House Armed Services Committee
• Ronald O'Rourke, Congressional Research Service: The State of U.S. Shipbuilding
• Shelby S. Oakley, Government Accountability Office: Navy Shipbuilding: a Generational Imperative for Systemic Change
• Eric J. Labs, Congressional Budget Office: Testimony on The Navy’s 2025 Shipbuilding Plan and Its Implications for the Shipbuilding Industrial Base

Research

Photo by Mika Baumeister on Unsplash

Military Supply Chain Logistics and Dynamic Capabilities: A Literature Review and Synthesis
David Loska, et al., Transportation Journal

Military supply chain logistics (MSCL) has historically driven innovation in supply chain management, developing unique dynamic capabilities to navigate volatile and uncertain environments, offering valuable lessons for the broader business logistics landscape. This literature review synthesizes the evolution of MSCL with dynamic capabilities theory, highlighting its distinctive attributes and the potential for cross-sector learning.

National shipbuilding strategies in Australia, Britain, and Canada
Elinor C. Sloan, International Journal

Canada, Australia, and Britain have each implemented national naval shipbuilding strategies driven by the need to replace aging fleets and establish sovereign capabilities, yet they face common challenges of delays, cost increases, and the complexities of warship construction. The article compares their strategic and tactical approaches, highlighting the trade-offs between domestic building, value for money, continuous production, and bespoke requirements.

Exploring Successful U.S. Department of Defense Small Business Innovation Research Program Outcomes and Corresponding Public Sector Commercialization Success Factors
Sarah Maria Rovito, George Washington University

This study examines factors contributing to successful commercialization of technologies developed through Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR), as evidenced by the achievement of Department of the Navy Phase III awards or receipt of an SBIR Success designation. By analyzing a large dataset of SBIR awards using statistical and machine learning methods, the research identifies key predictors of commercial success, such as award amount, company size, and prior SBIR investment.

Military Readiness: Implementing GAO's Recommendations Can Help DOD Address Persistent Challenges Across Air, Sea, Ground, and Space Domains
Government Accountability Office

Military readiness across air, sea, ground, and space domains has degraded over the last two decades. The Department of Defense (DOD) needs to implement over 100 outstanding recommendations from the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to address persistent challenges while balancing current operational demands with modernization efforts.

Resources

Tactical Intelligence Targeting Access Node's (TITAN) most significant contribution to Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) is its modular open system architecture and data management. Here, systems mounted on a Joint Light Tactical Vehicle (JLTV) will contribute to TITAN's intelligence gathering capabilities. Courtesy Photo, Program Executive Office Intelligence, Electronic Warfare & Sensors

DOD Unveils MOSA Implementation Guidebook
Jane Edwards, ExecutiveGov

The Department of Defense (DOD) has published a guidebook to promote the adoption of a Modular Open Systems Approach (MOSA) across the defense acquisition lifecycle, providing best practices for planning, implementation, and evaluation, as well as recommendations for requests for proposals.

Guidebook: Implementing a Modular Open Systems Approach in
Department of Defense Programs

DOD Issues Guidance on Contractors’ Program R&M Estimates
Arthur McMiler, Executive Gov

The Department of Defense has issued a guidebook for contractors to enhance the quality of their reliability and maintainability (R&M) estimates for DOD programs. This guide, the first in a series, incorporates industry feedback and offers best practices for generating more accurate R&M predictions throughout the system lifecycle.

Guidance: Best Practices to Achieve Better Reliability and Maintainability Estimates for DoD Systems

Opportunities

A U.S. Air Force Special Tactics operator with the 23rd Special Tactics Squadron, Hurlburt Field, Florida, programs a surveillance drone to provide security at Eglin Range, Florida, Dec. 6, 2022. (U.S. Air Force photo by SrA Christopher H. Stolze)

SOCOM searching for reconfigurable ‘drone-in-a-box’ systems that can fly and drive
Jon Harper, Defense Scoop

U.S. Special Operations Command (SOCOM) is seeking versatile "Drone in a Box" systems capable of transforming between unmanned aerial vehicles and ground robots to enhance mission adaptability.

Special Notice: Drone in a Box (DIBs) Collaboration Event (CE)

Green Berets Looking For FPV Drones To Help Them Clear Hostile Cave Complexes
Howard Altman, The War Zone

U.S. Special Operations Command Central (SOCCENT) is seeking to procure FPV drones and associated training for Green Berets to enhance their ability to clear hostile cave complexes, as these drones are deemed safer and more effective than the current reliance on military working dogs and partner forces. This acquisition addresses the growing threat posed by adversaries utilizing underground facilities in regions like the Middle East.

Special Notice: SOCCENT Unmanned Aerial System Procurement

Machine Gun With Longer Reach Sought By U.S. Army
Joseph Trevithick, The War Zone

The U.S. Army seeks a new machine gun that can fire the .338 Norma Magnum cartridge, while maintaining compatibility with the 6.8x51mm ammunition used in M7 rifles and M250 light machine guns.

Sources Sought: Dual Caliber Machine Gun .338N and 6.8mm

Sources Sought: M240 6.8mm Conversion Kit

Events

Manifest: Demo Day
17 March 2025
Washington DC

2025 Undersea Warfare Spring Conference
17-19 March 2025
San Diego, CA

McAleese Defense Programs Conference
18 March 2025
Washington DC

2025 Munitions Executive Summit
18-19 March 2025
Parsippany, NJ

DoD Modernization Exchange 2025
25-26 March 2025
Virtual

AUSA Global Force Symposium and Exposition
25-27 March 2025
Huntsville, AL

Software-defined warfare: A blueprint for sustaining a competitive military edge
27 March 2025
Washington, DC

TEVCON: Technology, Energy, Vehicle Conference
2-4 April 2025
San Diego, CA

Technology & National Security Conference
4-5 April 2025
Cambridge, MA

Building Critical Mineral Security for a Sustainable Future
30 April 2025
Washington, DC or Virtual

Sea Air Space
6-9 April 2025
National Harbor, Maryland

APEX
23-24 April 2025
National Harbor, Maryland

2025 State of the Space Industrial Base Conference and SSIB Workshops
29 April - 2 May 2025
Albuquerque, NM

Creating Synergy for Informed Change - Transitioning Technology
22nd Annual Acquisition Research Symposium & Innovation Summit
7-8 May 2025
Virtual

2025 ASNE Intelligent Ships Symposium
12-14 May 2025
Philadelphia, PA

DLA Supply Chain Alliance Conference & Exhibition
11-12 June 2025
Richmond, VA

Training & Simulation Industry Symposium (TSIS) 2025
17-18 June 2025
Orlando, FL

MODSIM World 2025
18-20 August 2025
Norfolk, VA

I/ITSEC 2025: Optimizing Training: Ensuring Operational Dominance
1-4 December 2025
Orlando, FL

One more thing...

Photo By Petty Officer 1st Class Douglas Parker | OKINAWA, Japan (Apr. 15, 2021) Seabees with Naval Mobile Construction Battalion (NMCB) 4 and Marines with 9th Engineer Support Battalion maneuver through a course at the Jungle Warfare Training Center.

Seabees 'Can Do' Since '42
Lt.j.g. Drew Verbis, DVIDS

The U.S. Navy Seabees, celebrating their 83rd anniversary in 2025, have a storied history of providing crucial construction, engineering, and humanitarian support globally.

• Pearl Harbor Origin: The Seabees were created in 1942 following the attack on Pearl Harbor, recognizing the need for a militarized construction force.
• WWII Contributions: During World War II, Seabees built over 400 advance bases, numerous airfields, piers, and hospitals across the Atlantic, Alaskan, and Pacific theaters, playing a vital role in the war effort.
• Post-War Service: Since WWII, Seabees have contributed to every major U.S. military conflict, as well as providing extensive humanitarian aid and disaster relief globally.
• "Seabee" Nickname: The name "Seabee" originates from the phonetic pronunciation of C.B. for "Construction Battalions".
• Disney-Designed Emblem: The iconic Seabee logo, featuring a bee with construction tools and a rifle, was designed by Walt Disney in 1943.

Maureen Lauder, PhD, Communications Manager
Karey Shaffer, MBA, Program Manager
Acquisition Research Program
Naval Postgraduate School
e: ARPEditor@nps.edu 

Note: Article summaries were generated with the help of AI tools.

Home     Student Program     Work with us     Events     DAIR     News

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NEED TO KNOW

Acquisition Research Program Newsletter

March 7, 2025       —       Issue 233

UPDATE: Creating Synergy for Informed Change: Transitioning Technology to the Warfighter, NPS' 22nd Annual Acquisition Research Symposium and Innovation Summit will be held virtually!

In light of current events, and our ongoing effort to maximize participation and provide greater flexibility to our participants, we have decided to transition this year's event to an online format. We are confident that this year's symposium will meet the high standards you have come to expect from us.

This Week's Top Stories 

Rear Adm. Milton Sands, left, speaks with Marine Maj. Gen. Peter Huntley on Wednesday, Feb. 26, 2025, before a House Armed Services Committee hearing in Washington. (Eric Kayne/Stars and Stripes)

Special ops commanders say adversaries outpacing US in tech advancement
Svetlana Shkolnikova, Stars and Stripes

Special operations commanders have expressed concerns that the rapid technological advancements of adversaries, including both nations and non-state actors, are outpacing the U.S.'s ability to keep up.

• Eroding advantage: The U.S.'s historical advantage in sensing the enemy is diminishing due to the widespread availability of modern technologies.
• Modernization challenge: Special forces are struggling to keep pace with rapidly evolving technologies like artificial intelligence.
• Bureaucratic delays: Lengthy bureaucratic processes impede rapid innovation and the modification of commercial off-the-shelf technology.
• Report to Congress: U.S. Special Operations Forces (SOF): Background and Considerations for Congress

No money, no problem: Army unit making its own drones
Mark Pomerleau, DefenseScoop

An Army unit, the 101st Airborne Division, is innovating by 3D-printing its own drones to supplement traditional acquisition processes, addressing budget constraints and drawing lessons from the widespread use of unmanned aerial systems in Ukraine. This initiative is part of a broader Army effort to expedite the fielding of new technologies and adapt to the dynamic battlefield.

• Cost savings: The unit was able to 3D print more than 100 small drones at a much lower cost than purchasing roughly 20 unmanned systems, including systems from Skydio.
• Soldier innovation: Soldiers are innovating in the field, such as developing 3D-printed attachments for drones to drop grenades, complementing existing programs.
• Drone proficiency: The 101st Airborne Division aims for every soldier to be proficient in flying drones, similar to firearm proficiency.

The San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock ship USS Green Bay (LPD 20) arrives in its new homeport of San Diego, Dec. 9, 2024. (U.S. Navy photo by Chief Mass Communication Specialist Mark D. Faram)

Can the US Navy Get its Mojo Back?
CAVASSHIPS Podcast [Feb 28 ’25] Ep: 182 Dave Lewis on Navy Mojo
Christopher P. Cavas and Chris Servello, Defense and Aerospace Report

Our own Dave Lewis, Professor of the Practice in the Department of Defense Management, joins the CavasShips podcast to discuss the findings and recommendations from his doctoral research. His dissertation, titled "Can the US Navy Get its Mojo Back?" explores the Navy's long history of developing and fielding cutting-edge technologies, the current state of Navy innovation, and how to recover the skills that made it successful for 150 years.

• Organize for innovation: The Navy historically organized around innovation, standing up quasi-independent organizations that were responsible, accountable, and have the authority to develop & implement new technology.
• Shift in approach: The Navy stopped organizing for innovation around the start of this century and consequently has lagged behind in fielding advanced digital technologies.
• New commands: Lewis recommends the establishment of new systems command, dedicated to fielding AI and autonomous technologies.
• Full Dissertation: Can the US Navy Get its Mojo Back?: Organizational Learning and Innovation Leadership in the US Navy, 1794 to 2024

Watchdog spotlights need for clear metrics to assess DIU’s impacts as it matures
Brandi Vincent, DefenseScoop

The Government Accountability Office (GAO) assessed the Defense Innovation Unit's (DIU) progress toward scaling technology for military needs and found that the DIU needs clearer metrics to assess its impact as it matures.

GAO Report: Defense Innovation Unit: Actions Needed to Assess Progress and Further Enhance Collaboration

ARP and NPS News

Navy Research Lab's Joey Mathews, Defense Innovation Unit's Kedar Pavgi and Naval Postgraduate School's Kaitie Penry explain how they're boosting federal tech adoption at the GovCIO Media & Research Defense IT event in Arlington, Virginia, Feb. 27, 2025. Photo Credit: Invision Events

A Look at Efforts to Streamline Technology Innovation at DOD | GovCIO Media & Research
Sarah Sybert, GovCIO

Kaitie Penry, NPS' Director of Emerging Technology and Innovation, participated a panel discussion on defense innovation at last week's Defense IT Summit in Arlington, VA. The panel included Navy Research Lab's Joey Mathews and Defense Innovation Unit's Kedar Pavgiother and highlighted efforts to overcome the "valley of death" that many innovative defense technologies face when transitioning from development to deployment.

• Cooperative agreements: Penry explained the importance of leveraging cooperative research and development agreements (CRADAs), which enable innovators to better understand problem sets. She noted that NPS collaborated with a startup using a CRADA and secured their facility clearance in just seven weeks - without the startup having to win a contract.
• Technology showcases: Federal innovators are establishing venues and opportunities for industry to present new technology solutions, as with the Naval Postgraduate School’s (NPS) Warfare Innovation Continuum (WIC) workshop.
• Prize challenges: DIU is exploring how prize challenges can lead to contracted work and faster federal tech adoption. Penry suggested partnering with DIU to run prize challenges that could lead to CRADAs and sole-source contracts, accelerating the process of bringing industry partners on board.

Acquisition

The Delta IV Heavy NROL-44 rocket launches from Space Launch Complex-37 on Dec. 10, 2020, at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Fla. The NROL-44 mission is the first mission to launch from the Eastern Range after the historic range's name change to Cape Canaveral SFS on Dec. 9, 2020. (U.S. Space Force photo by Senior Airman Zoe Thacker)

Bridging Speed and Scale—Integrating Commercial Space Advances Into Defense Capabilities
Lt. Col. Allen J. Varghese, Defense Acquisition

The commercial space industry is rapidly advancing, but integrating these technologies into the U.S. Space Force (USSF) is slowed by bureaucratic processes. Adaptive integration techniques, such as those promoted by the Defense Innovation Unit (DIU), offer a way to incorporate commercial solutions into acquisition pathways more efficiently.

• Adaptive integration: Adaptive integration techniques involve making intentional decisions during a program’s life cycle to integrate commercial solutions, demonstrating their operational utility while minimizing disruption to the program.
• DIU's role: The DIU can provide market research to inform the USSF program offices' AoA process. If the USSF prioritizes resilient communications via interoperable space-based lasercom, the DIU can fund a prototype project to further inform future USSF acquisition strategies.

INDUSTRY PERSPECTIVE: Transforming Acquisitions With Digital Electronic Systems Engineering
James Chew, Defense Magazine

The defense acquisition process is plagued by cost and schedule overruns, but adopting digital electronic systems engineering practices, particularly using hardware-accurate digital twins, can help the defense ecosystem develop and maintain cutting-edge technologies more efficiently.

• Augustine's Law: Defense systems rely on sophisticated electronic designs, leading to exponential increases in development, operations, and sustainment costs. Norm Augustine's Law 16 humorously predicts that by 2054, the defense budget will only be able to afford a single aircraft.
• Digital twins: Commercial companies use emulation systems to test and evaluate designs before fabrication, and the GAO has confirmed digital electronic systems engineering practices using hardware-accurate digital twins are commercial best practices.
• AFRL facility: The Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) is transitioning digital twinning practices to acquisition programs with a new facility at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, funded by the F-35 Joint Program Office. This facility will extend digital twin capabilities to all defense acquisition programs.
• GAO Report: Leading Practices: Iterative Cycles Enable Rapid Delivery of Complex, Innovative Products

Generative AI Used to Speed Up Defense Acquisitions
Stew Magnuson, Defense News

Generative AI tools like ChatGPT can accelerate defense acquisition systems, which are often criticized for being too slow, by organizing unstructured information, accelerating prototyping, and streamlining regulatory compliance

• Acquisition personnel: Acquisition professionals are exploring generative AI to alleviate pain points by automating cumbersome tasks, optimizing workflows, and improving processes.
• Information organization: Generative AI can organize unstructured information such as after-action reports, research, white papers, rules, regulations, and contracts, making knowledge more accessible.
• Prototyping acceleration: Generative AI can expedite the creation of software prototypes and models, verifying software functionality and its connectivity to other systems.

Conflict of Interest Rule Changes Likely to Impact Contractors
Jay Carey, Homer La Rue and Ethan Syster, National Defense

The Federal Acquisition Regulatory (FAR) Council issued a proposed rule updating the government's approach to organizational conflicts of interest (OCIs), which could significantly affect defense contractors. The proposed rule seeks to update definitions, provide illustrative examples, and standardize solicitation provisions and contract clauses, and it is subject to change based on forthcoming comments.

Innovation

Jordan Dross, senior product manager at Primordial Labs, instructs a team of drones through their mission via a simple headset and push-to-talk radio. (Photo courtesy of Primordial Labs).

Voice-controlled drones a military game-changer, Primordial Labs says
Jen Judson, Defense News

Primordial Labs has developed Anura, a software that enables voice control of drones using natural language, potentially reducing cognitive overload and manpower requirements on the battlefield. The software is designed to be integrated into various drone platforms and has been tested with the U.S. Army and Special Operations Command.

• Natural language: The system understands the intent behind spoken commands and provides real-time feedback, adapting to changes on the fly.
• Broad integration: Anura can be integrated into different drone platforms, including those competing for the Short-Range Reconnaissance program, and has been demonstrated on the Black Hornet micro-drone.
• No AI reliance: Anura operates locally without using large language models or open AI servers, ensuring that it owns its pipeline.

RoQS for a hard place: DARPA seeks radically more ‘robust’ quantum sensors for ‘inhospitable’ fieldwork
Sydney J. Freedberg Jr., Breaking Defense

DARPA's Robust Quantum Sensors (RoQS) program aims to develop quantum sensors that are resilient to interference and can operate effectively in harsh field conditions, moving beyond current lab-based technology.

• Fundamental change: RoQS aims for a foundational shift in quantum sensor design to inherently address interference, rather than seeking new ways to shield quantum sensors from interference.
• Procurement experiment: RoQS aims to bridge the gap between R&D and practical deployment.

A 3D-printed submarine? Not likely, but maybe something close
Lauren C. Williams, Defense One

The Navy is increasing its use of additive manufacturing, or 3D-printing, to produce submarine parts, aiming to address critical delays and supply chain issues, though a fully 3D-printed submarine remains unlikely.

• Critical parts: The Navy is focusing on using additive manufacturing to create critical submarine parts, including "really hard material combinations". One boat is using 3D-printing for over 100 critical parts.
• Investment surge: The Navy has invested over $200 million in additive manufacturing to accelerate its use. From 2014 to 2023, the Pentagon spent nearly $6 billion on the shipbuilding industrial base. That number is expected to double through fiscal year 2028.
• AUKUS agreement: Additive manufacturing is crucial to the AUKUS agreement; one Australian company produced prototype tailpiece components for Virginia-class submarines in five weeks, compared to the average of 17 months.

Tech bros to the rescue? Reagan Institute 2025 scorecard dings Pentagon on ‘scaling’ innovation
Sydney J. Freedberg Jr., Breaking Defense

The Reagan Institute's 2025 report card assesses the "national security innovation base," noting progress in the Pentagon's engagement with defense startups, but also highlighting challenges such as bureaucratic hurdles, anemic manufacturing capacity, and competition with China. The report emphasizes the importance of private-sector innovators and venture capital in maintaining America's high-tech edge, while also pointing out the need for improvements in manufacturing and streamlined processes within the Pentagon.

Full Report: National Security Innovation Base (NSIB) Report Card

Defense & Strategy

Shipyard operations at General Dynamics NASSCO in February 2025 in San Diego, California. Bradley Peniston / Defense One

Weld, baby, weld: White House to create an ‘office of shipbuilding’
Lauren C. Williams and Bradley Peniston, Defense One

President Trump announced the creation of a new White House office focused on shipbuilding to revitalize the American shipbuilding industry and enhance national security. This initiative aims to counter the growing shipbuilding capabilities of countries like China and address the current challenges facing U.S. shipbuilding programs.

The Tech Revolution and Irregular Warfare: Leveraging Commercial Innovation for Great Power Competition
Seth G. Jones, Center for Strategic and International Studies

The United States is not adequately prepared for the evolving landscape of irregular warfare and must better leverage commercial sector innovation to compete with adversaries like China, Russia, and Iran. To enhance its capabilities in areas such as battlefield awareness, intelligence, and unmanned systems, the U.S. military and intelligence communities need to streamline acquisitions, minimize risk aversion, and foster stronger partnerships with the commercial sector.

Space Force: Vive la difference, advises a new AEI policy paper
Theresa Hitchens, Breaking Defense

A new policy paper from American Enterprise Institute (AEI) advocates for the Space Force to embrace its unique position and aggressively pursue innovative approaches in operations, acquisitions, and personnel management. The paper emphasizes that the Space Force should capitalize on its exceptional nature by restructuring its organization around mission areas and pushing for reforms in personnel systems and budget allocation.

Policy Paper: Embracing Space Force Exceptionalism

Industry

The factory floor at Lockheed Martin's F-35 factory in Fort Worth, Texas. Lockheed Martin courtesy photo

Defense Industry: Want Surge Capacity? Pay For It.
John Tirpak, Air & Space Forces Magazine

In testimony before the House Armed Services Committee, defense industry leaders urged the Pentagon to include surge capacity requirements in contracts and provide appropriate compensation to enhance the defense industrial base's ability to increase production during crises.

• Efficiency shift: The Pentagon should move away from prioritizing efficiency at all costs to ensure surge capability.
• Inventory Importance: Moving away from "just in time" inventory practices is a national strategic interest to allow for large parts storage and accelerated production.
• Streamline processes: Congress provides authorities to expedite contracting, but the federal workforce needs incentives to use them.
• Avoid delays: Continuing resolutions and funding delays should be avoided to prevent supply chain stress and discourage small businesses from working with the DoD.

Pentagon needs further industry collaboration on O-RAN development for 5G interoperability
Carley Welch, Breaking Defense

The DoD aims to enhance flexibility, cost efficiency, interoperability, and security in 5G networks through open radio access network (O-RAN) capability, but needs industry's help to expedite the process and educate warfighters on implementation.

• O-RAN architecture: O-RAN allows users to mix and match hardware and software components from various vendors when creating 5G networks. This extensibility is a significant advantage, with 5G network components working with legacy systems and having built-in capability for future use cases like 6G.
• Warfighter education: DOD needs help from industry to educate warfighters on how to implement 5G technologies and ensure devices from different vendors can work together.

Congress & Government

Photo by Elijah Mears on Unsplash

House defense modernization caucus eyes ‘constructively disruptive’ reforms at DOD
Brandi Vincent, DefenseScoop

A new House Defense Modernization Caucus (HDMC) is aiming to bring constructive disruption to the Department of Defense (DOD) by addressing bureaucratic inefficiencies, acquisition processes, and funding mechanisms to better integrate modern software and technology. The caucus intends to work in a bipartisan way to drive legislative changes and reforms within the DOD.

Navy’s ‘Risk Averse’ Culture Hampering Shipbuilding, Ship Repair, Says Panel to HASC
John Grady, USNI News

The Navy's risk-averse culture and bureaucratic processes are hindering its ability to efficiently build and repair ships, according to the president of the Shipbuilding Council of America. To improve shipbuilding and repair, a partnership between the Navy and shipyards is needed, along with a reduction in oversight and fewer design changes.

GAO Report: Shipbuilding and Repair: Navy Needs a Strategic Approach for Private Sector Industrial Base Investments

Continuing Resolution Proposal Includes $1B in Anomalies for Columbia Sub, Shipbuilding Programs
Sam LaGrone, USNI News

A proposed funding deal includes $1.06 billion in anomalies to cover the costs to complete 22 ships and incremental funding for the Columbia-class ballistic missile nuclear submarine program. The proposal seeks to provide necessary funding to complete ships under construction and support the Columbia-class submarine program while also addressing pay increases for junior enlisted service members.

• Stopgap measure: The current continuing resolution keeps the government running through March 14, with Congress working on a new temporary funding bill.
• Clean CR: There is intent to pass a clean continuing resolution (CR) to freeze funding at current levels to keep the government open.

Research

An F-35 breaks the sound barrier while practicing air show maneuvers at Hill Air Force Base, Utah, in December. Lockheed-Martin has built more than 1,000 F-35s, and the Air Force inventory will top 500 this year. USAF plans continue to call for a force of 1,763 F-35s, but getting to that goal remains elusive. The Air Force once envisioned buying up to 110 F-35s per year, but only requested 42 for 2025. At that rate, it will take into the 2040s to build all the jets still planned. Senior Airman Nicholas Rupiper/USAF

New Report: A $45B ‘Recovery Plan’ for the Department of the Air Force
Greg Hadley, Air & Space Forces Magazine

A new report from the Mitchell Institute advocates for a $45 billion "recovery plan" for the Air Force and Space Force. The report argues that increased funding is crucial to modernize the Air Force, which is currently the smallest and oldest it has ever been, and to allow the Space Force to adequately develop its capabilities. Authors argue that underfunding these forces risks losing a future conflict, making the proposed investments essential for national security.

Full Report: Air Force and Space Force Vectors for the Incoming Trump Defense Team

BREAKING: Space Development Agency Developing Satellites with Unproven Tech, GAO Says
Joanna Ye, National Defense

The Space Development Agency (SDA) is investing billions in satellite technology that uses lasers for communication, despite the technology being unproven.

• Contract awards: The SDA has awarded almost $10 billion in contracts for Tranche 1 and Tranche 2, despite T0 not meeting its requirements.
• GAO Report: Laser Communications: Space Development Agency Should Create Links Between Development Phases

Looking to cut Pentagon costs? Start here, watchdog says
Patrick Tucker, Defense One

The Government Accountability Office (GAO) has found that the Pentagon is losing ground in weapons acquisition despite reducing waste in most "high-risk" areas. The report suggests that the Defense Department should carefully consider legacy weapon systems and programs for potential cuts, while also modernizing the defense acquisition process.

GAO Report: High-Risk Series: Heightened Attention Could Save Billions More and Improve Government Efficiency and Effectiveness

Events

2025 Human Systems Conference
11-12 March 2025
Arlington, VA

Manifest: Demo Day
17 March 2025
Washington DC

2025 Undersea Warfare Spring Conference
17-19 March 2025
San Diego, CA

McAleese Defense Programs Conference
18 March 2025
Washington DC

2025 Munitions Executive Summit
18-19 March 2025
Parsippany, NJ

DoD Modernization Exchange 2025
25-26 March 2025
Virtual

Building Critical Mineral Security for a Sustainable Future
30 April 2025
Washington, DC or Virtual

Creating Synergy for Informed Change: Transitioning Technology to the Warfighter
22nd Annual Acquisition Research Symposium & Innovation Summit
7-8 May 2025
Virtual

2025 ASNE Intelligent Ships Symposium
12-14 May 2025
Philadelphia, PA

DLA Supply Chain Alliance Conference & Exhibition
11-12 June 2025
Richmond, VA

Training & Simulation Industry Symposium (TSIS) 2025
17-18 June 2025
Orlando, FL

MODSIM World 2025
18-20 August 2025
Norfolk, VA

I/ITSEC 2025: Optimizing Training: Ensuring Operational Dominance
1-4 December 2025
Orlando, FL

One more thing...

U.S. Marine Corps Sgt. Gracelyn Oldham, an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) operator with the Battalion Landing Team 1/6, 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operations Capable) (MEU(SOC)) poses for a picture alongside multiple UAV systems while on the flight deck aboard the San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock ship USS Mesa Verde (LPD 19), Mediterranean Sea, Nov. 10, 2023. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Michele Clarke)

The Marine Corps aims to prove its chops in drone operation
Tom Temin, Federal News Network

The Marine Corps is taking a leading role in integrating drone technology into its operations by establishing a competitive drone team to participate in the Military Drone Crucible Championship.

• First to fight: The Marine Corps is the first service to announce its team for the Military Drone Crucible Championship. The Corps has established its competitive drone team under the training command and Marine Corps Warfighting Laboratory.
• Competition Goals: The competition aims to foster innovation in drone tactics and technology, especially focusing on smaller, squad-level drones, by enabling operators and industry to collaborate and experiment.
• Skill emphasis: The Marine Corps is emphasizing that operators need to be part operator and part engineer, requiring agility at the squad level to integrate drones effectively.

Maureen Lauder, PhD, Communications Manager
Karey Shaffer, MBA, Program Manager
Acquisition Research Program
Naval Postgraduate School
e: ARPEditor@nps.edu 

Note: Article summaries were generated with the help of AI tools.

Home     Student Program     Work with us     Events     DAIR     News

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View as a webpage  /  Share

NEED TO KNOW

Acquisition Research Program Newsletter

February 28, 2025       —       Issue 232

This Week's Top Stories 

An aerial view of the Pentagon, Washington, D.C., May 15, 2023. (DoD photo by U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. John Wright)

Pentagon may break up tech offices in acquisition-policy shift
Patrick Tucker, NextGov

The Pentagon is considering a significant reorganization of its technology offices with the goal of accelerating the delivery of advanced technologies to warfighters. The proposed changes aim to consolidate innovation efforts and shift more research and development costs onto defense contractors

• Innovation consolidation: A new organization may be formed by combining parts of the Strategic Capabilities Office, the Defense Innovation Unit (DIU), and the Chief Digital and Artificial Intelligence Office (CDAO). This entity would concentrate on procuring cutting-edge commercial products.
• PEO evolution: DIU's procurement functions would be taken over by the new entity, which would move away from working directly with combatant commands. Funding for acquisitions would come primarily from service-branch program executive offices (PEOs), shifting acquisition costs to the services.
• Investment priorities: The Pentagon aims to shift investment away from research in "abstractions" like "artificial intelligence" to focusing on more tangible weapons and business systems.
• Congressional buy-in: The plan is its very early stages and would require buy-in and support from Congress, as it proposes changes to organizations that are mandated by and funded directly from Congress. The plan would also involve substantial changes to the way the individual and joint service works.

EXCLUSIVE: Hegseth draft memo lays out software acquisition reform push
Carley Welch and Ashley Roque, Breaking Defense

In order to accelerate the fielding of new technologies and weapons, the Department of Defense (DoD) is considering adopting the Software Acquisition Pathway (SWP) as the preferred method for software development.

• Software-centric approach: DoD wants to transition from a hardware-centric to a software-centric approach, enabling faster delivery of capabilities to warfighters and closer collaboration with commercial tech companies.
• Speedy deployment: The goal is to deploy capabilities into platforms within six months or less, with the aim to shorten this to hours or days.
• Default solicitation: Commercial Solutions Openings and Other Transactions (OTAs) may become the "default solicitation" and award avenue for acquiring capabilities.

This robot-ship startup wants to bet ‘billions’ on a new kind of shipyard
Lauren C. Williams, Defense One

Saronic, a robot shipbuilder, has secured substantial funding to build a new kind of shipyard called Port Alpha. The company plans to mass-produce medium and large uncrewed surface vehicles (USVs) for the Navy, even though the Navy's specific requirements for USV size are still evolving.

• Anticipating Demand: Saronic intends to begin production even before the Pentagon finalizes its requirements, with the goal of delivering the right capabilities to the Navy when needed.
• Manufacturing Focus: Saronic aims to build USVs in a manner similar to how trucks and cars are manufactured, which could simplify workforce requirements.
• Broader Trend: Saronic's move to build before firm government commitments aligns with a growing trend among private companies with capital, similar to Anduril's approach with autonomous aircraft.

DoD reviewing ‘non-essential’ consultancy contracts for termination
Theresa Hitchens, Breaking Defense

The Department of Defense (DoD) has ordered a review of its consultancy contracts to ensure they align with current priorities and statutory purposes. Contracts determined to be non-essential for fulfilling the Department's mission and statutory purposes may be terminated or descoped.

How tariffs will affect the Defense Department supply chain
Tom Temin, Federal News Network

Tariffs and tariff threats could increase the cost of printed circuit boards (PCBs), increasing the cost of networking equipment and causing supply disruptions until manufacturing ramps up in the United States.

• Ubiquitous Use: Printed circuit boards are the foundation of electronic systems widely used in defense, critical infrastructure, telecommunications, and various commercial applications.
• Foreign Dependence: Currently, eight out of ten boards are made in Asia, with six out of ten coming from mainland China. The U.S. only holds 4% of the global printed circuit board market.
• Solutions: Tax credits for American-made printed circuit boards and integrated circuit substrates could make domestic production cost-competitive. Partnerships at the state, local, and federal levels, along with federal incentives, could bring back manufacturing. The Defense Production Act can be used to invest in securing raw and refined materials.

Air Force budget cuts may open old wounds with Congress
Stephen Losey, Defense News

The Air Force faces the challenge of meeting new budget cut mandates by retiring older aircraft, a strategy that has historically met resistance from Congress.

• Fleet Priorities: The Air Force aims to retire legacy systems to free up resources to modernize their fleet. However, lawmakers have the power to block cuts they disagree with or that they believe will negatively impact their constituents.
• Capability Erosion: Retiring aircraft without a one-to-one replacement could erode the Air Force's ability to carry out certain missions, while cutting research and development could jeopardize future capabilities.

ARP and NPS News

U.S. Navy Adm. Stuart Munsch, commander, U.S. Naval Forces Europe, U.S. Naval Forces Africa, and Allied Joint Forces Command Naples, speaks to students at the Naval Postgraduate School (NPS) during a Secretary of the Navy Guest Lecture, Feb. 4, 2025. He highlighted the strategic role of NPS in fostering innovation, interdisciplinary collaboration, and developing future military leaders capable of leveraging technological advancements and strategic competencies in modern warfare. (U.S. Navy photo by MC2 Janiel Adames.)

Adm. Munsch Discusses Vital Role of NPS in Developing Warfighters, Warfighting Solutions
MC2 Janiel Adames, NPS Public Affairs

U.S. Navy Adm. Stuart Munsch spoke at the Naval Postgraduate School (NPS) stressing the school's vital role in fostering innovation and developing military leaders.

• Unique Environment: NPS fosters asymmetry in warfare by enabling U.S. and international military students to explore innovative solutions together.
• Synergistic Approach: NPS' commitment to fostering collaboration between warriors, researchers, and industry accelerates solutions, adaptation, and decision-making.
• Competitive Edge: Munsch emphasized that people are the real advantage in warfare and highlighted the importance of nurturing leadership qualities at all levels.

Acquisition

A future U.S. Navy frigate will be capable of significant software upgrades at sea to constantly hone its warfighting edge. Image created by the author with an AI tool

The Future Is Here: Thoughts on Warship Design and Acquisition
Admiral John Richardson, U.S. Navy (Retired), Proceedings

Future warship design and acquisition should harmonize software, systems, and structures, using a "three-stream" approach to ensure adaptability and cutting-edge capabilities. This approach involves updating software rapidly, refreshing systems with new technologies, and building durable hulls and power plants designed for future technologies.

• Acquisition Evolution: The defense acquisition community should adopt a modular approach to buying and supporting warships, accommodating the different speeds of procuring software, systems, and structures.
• Commercial Inspiration: Software development should emulate tech companies with rapid, iterative updates, while systems architecture should mirror advanced manufacturers with modularity and standardized interfaces.

FAR review and reform
Roger Waldron, Federal News Network

The Coalition for Government Procurement is soliciting recommendations for streamlining the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR). The goal is to identify opportunities for reform, revision, or rescission, so as to improve the federal procurement system by increasing efficiency, lowering costs, and reducing barriers to entry for commercial firms.

Next iteration of Army’s ‘transforming-in-contact’ will focus on autonomy
Mark Pomerleau, DefenseScoop

The Army's transforming-in-contact initiative aims to change how the service procures, trains, and employs technology by focusing on commercial-off-the-shelf gear. This initiative seeks to integrate lessons from combat training scenarios and real-world conflicts to inform force design and technology adoption, with a focus on incorporating feedback from soldiers and units.

• Feedback Driven: The program relies on bottom-up feedback from soldiers and units to determine needed systems and problem-solving approaches.
• Autonomy Focus: The next phase of the Army's transforming-in-contact initiative will concentrate on robotics and autonomy to scale to divisions and heavy brigades.
• Force Design: Lessons from the initial phase of transforming-in-contact are being used to update force design and determine future formation structures.
• Part 1 of this series: Army ‘transforming-in-contact’ unit using more drones than ever before
• Part 2 of this series: Updated network gear allows US soldiers to be more dispersed with lower digital footprints
   

Innovation

Screenshot from BioMojo’s human digital twin technology

Digital Frankenstein: Building the Perfect Human Simulation For Military
Laura Heckmann, National Defense

BioMojo has developed a digital human twin platform that incorporates physical, cognitive, emotional, and behavioral data to create a holistic, real-time representation of an individual for military and other applications.

• Military Applications: The technology can create detailed simulations for testing new wearable equipment like body armor and new training systems for injury prevention.
• Navy Collaboration: BioMojo is working to deliver a version of its technology to the Navy to aid in the development of new life-saving equipment for military personnel.

AUKUS Nations Making Inroads on Quantum Tech, But Barriers Remain
Josh Luckenbaugh, National Defense

The AUKUS Quantum Arrangement, established in 2022 by Australia, the United Kingdom, and the United States, aims to integrate quantum technology for trials and experimentation. The arrangement focuses on positioning, navigation, and timing (PNT) solutions, offering a resilient alternative to GPS, but faces challenges in technology sharing and export controls.

• Technology Sharing: The AUKUS Quantum Arrangement facilitates technology sharing but lacks cross-border funding for a specific quantum program.
• Oversight Role: The AUKUS Quantum Arrangement serves as an oversight operation to ensure that everyone is moving in the same direction in quantum technology development.

New Hypersonic Strike-Recon Aircraft Effort Eyeing Prototype Development By 2030
Joseph Trevithick, The War Zone

The U.S. Air Force and DARPA are collaborating on the Next Generation Responsive Strike (Next RS) program to develop a reusable hypersonic aircraft for strike and intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) missions, potentially leading to a prototype within five years.

The program is seeking to improve the technologies necessary to bridge the gap between current reusable hypersonics and the technical maturity needed for a NextRS Y-Plane design program later this decade.

RFI: Broad Agency Announcement
RFI: Reusable High Mach Gas Turbine Technologies
RFI: Weight Efficient Thermally Driven Reusable Airframe Technologies
 

Defense & Strategy

The destroyer Halsey, left, and amphibious transport dock John P. Murtha under repair at BAE Systems San Diego in February 2025. Bradley Peniston / Defense One

Stop treating shipyards like the ‘corner garage': former Navy acquisitions chief
Meghann Myers, Defense One

The Navy's maintenance practices resemble treating shipyards like a "corner garage," leading to unpredictable maintenance periods and hindering the ability of private shipyards to invest in their capabilities. To achieve its goal of 80% deployability, the Navy needs shorter, more frequent, and better-planned maintenance availabilities.

• Self-Perpetuating Cycle: Poor planning leads to maintenance overruns, delaying subsequent ships and further disrupting schedules.
• Investment Disincentive: Private ship-repair companies find it difficult to invest in their capabilities due to the uncertainty of future work.

Air Force Mission Capability Rates Reach Lowest Levels in Years
John Tirpak, Air & Space Forces Magazine

In fiscal year 2024, the readiness of the U.S. Air Force's aircraft fleets reached its lowest point in at least a decade, with the average mission capable rate dropping to 67.15 percent, though some individual fleets and aircraft types fared better than others. The Air Force is working to address readiness issues, but the overall decline reflects challenges across various aircraft types and mission areas.

The Pentagon should abandon Soviet-era centralized planning
Bryan Clark and Dan Patt, DefenseScoop

The authors argue that the Pentagon's current approach to weapon development, particularly the Joint Capabilities Integration and Development System (JCIDS), resembles the centralized planning of the Soviet era and is ill-suited for today's dynamic security environment. To better adapt and innovate, the Department of Defense should embrace a more agile, collaborative, and feedback-driven approach, similar to the one adopted by Ukraine.

SOCOM looking to acquire new drone-launched glide bombs
Jon Harper, Defense Scoop

U.S. Special Operations Command (SOCOM) is seeking to equip lightweight drones with new glide bombs for special operations forces, with a technology assessment event planned for April to evaluate industry solutions.

RFI: Gliding Offensive Lightweight Unmanned Munition (GOLUM) Assessment Event

Industry

Raytheon’s AI-enhanced Radar Warning Receiver was flight-tested on an Air National Guard F-16 fighter, similar to this Arizona Air Guard jet. (Air Force file photo)

New plug-and-play AI can protect pilots of non-stealth planes: Raytheon
Sydney J. Freedberg Jr., Breaking Defense

Raytheon has developed a new AI-enhanced upgrade to protect pilots of non-stealth aircraft. The system can be installed on existing radar warning receivers (RWR), where it analyzes unfamiliar signals in real time and alerts the pilot to potential threats. This upgrade enhances the survival rates of US aircrews by enabling older, fourth-generation aircraft to defend against rapidly evolving enemy radar systems.

Revitalizing the US defense industry is best done with European allies
James Hursch and Kristen Taylor, Atlantic Council

The United States can revitalize its defense industry by working with European allies, combining industrial and innovative capabilities to address vulnerabilities in transatlantic defense industrial bases.

• US capacity: The US defense industrial base is not keeping pace with current demand. Decisions made decades ago have left the US defense industrial base unable to meet the demands associated with great power competition.
• European role: Europe needs to play a greater role in its own security, but European industry alone cannot match rising defense investments with the advanced and exquisite systems necessary to resource NATO’s defense plans. European defense industries are fractured along national lines and even more limited in overall capacity.

In response to Viasat suit, SDA will recompete 10-satellite award to Tyvak
Theresa Hitchens, Breaking Defense

The Space Development Agency (SDA) is re-competing a $254 million award to Tyvak Nano-Satellite Systems for 10 experimental fire-control satellites due to a lawsuit by Viasat, but a companion contract to York Space Systems remains unaffected. This decision follows an Air Force review that found an SDA employee improperly shared bid information with Tyvak before the contract was awarded.

To Outcompete China, the US Must Automate Maritime Supply Chains
Joseph Webster and Grace Hyemin Kim, The Diplomat

The U.S. must automate its maritime supply chains by applying smart logistics technologies to ports, cargo tracking, trucks, cranes, vessels, and rail. Failing to do so will damage U.S. economic competitiveness and could allow China to dominate global maritime logistics.

• China's Lead: China is rapidly developing intelligent ports and digital waterways, with more automated container terminals than the U.S. Shanghai's Yangshan Deep-Water Port processed over 50 million shipping containers last year, while the Port of Long Beach handled only 9.6 million.

Research

Photo by Jakub Żerdzicki on Unsplash

Costello’s Baroni Center for Government Contracting and NDIA’s Emerging Technologies Institute Publish New Report on Best Practices for Effective Defense Prototyping
Costello College of Business, George Mason University

A joint research report by the Baroni Center for Government Contracting and NDIA's Emerging Technologies Institute, based on input from over 200 participants, identifies best practices and recommendations to improve defense technology prototyping.

• Prototyping Benefits: Defense prototyping strengthens U.S. defense systems by advancing new technologies, enhancing weapon systems, boosting manufacturing efficiency, and developing the future workforce.
• Focus on Alignment: The DoD should ensure acquisition leaders and stakeholders are aware of prototyping efforts and synchronize them with service priorities to meet customer needs

Systemic Factors Influencing Risk Aversion: Diagnosing Behaviors and Tailoring Interventions for Lasting Transformation
Dr. Mike Rayo, Dr. Amanda Girth, Dr. Laura Maguire, Acquisition Innovation Research Center

An AIRC research team collaborated with the Air Force Installation Contracting Center (AFICC) to study and improve innovation within the acquisition workforce.

The team examined the systemic pressures that impede innovative behaviors in acquisition professionals, helped identify scalable innovations, and worked to build capacity within AFICC to support a culture of innovation.

Full Report

DoD needs to clarify Space Force roles and missions: Mitchell workshop
Theresa Hitchens, Breaking Defense

Fifty-five space experts who participated in a two-day Mitchell Institute workshop concluded that the Space Force needs to clarify its roles and missions, normalize space as a warfighting domain, and improve space domain awareness to maintain an enduring spacepower advantage.

Workshop participants also caution against over-reliance on commercial space capabilities, arguing that national security requires dedicated Space Force resources.

Full Report

Events

2025 Pacific Operational Science & Technology (POST) Conference
3-7 March 2025
Honolulu, HI

Disruptive Defense at Capital Factory House
7-9 March 2025
Austin, TX

2025 Human Systems Conference
11-12 March 2025
Arlington, VA

Manifest: Demo Day
17 March 2025
Washington DC

2025 Undersea Warfare Spring Conference
17-19 March 2025
San Diego, CA

McAleese Defense Programs Conference
18 March 2025
Washington DC

2025 Munitions Executive Summit
18-19 March 2025
Parsippany, NJ

DoD Modernization Exchange 2025
25-26 March 2025
Virtual

Building Critical Mineral Security for a Sustainable Future
30 April 2025
Washington, DC or Virtual

Creating Synergy for Informed Change - Transitioning Technology
22nd Annual Acquisition Research Symposium & Innovation Summit
7-8 May 2025
Monterey, CA

2025 ASNE Intelligent Ships Symposium
12-14 May 2025
Philadelphia, PA

DLA Supply Chain Alliance Conference & Exhibition
11-12 June 2025
Richmond, VA

Training & Simulation Industry Symposium (TSIS) 2025
17-18 June 2025
Orlando, FL

MODSIM World 2025
18-20 August 2025
Norfolk, VA

I/ITSEC 2025: Optimizing Training: Ensuring Operational Dominance
1-4 December 2025
Orlando, FL

One more thing...

U.S. Navy sailors pose for a group photo while showcasing “Strike Group,” a cutting-edge multi-scenario, mobile mixed-reality experience designed to demonstrate the breadth and depth of Navy STEM careers, as part of Fleet Week San Diego 2024, on November 6, 2024. (Charles E. White/U.S. Navy)

Navy brings interactive experience to Colorado Springs high school students
O’Dell Isaac, Stars and Stripes

As part of Fleet Week San Diego 2024, the Navy shared its "Strike Group" mobile interactive experience with high school students in Colorado.

• Interactive Experience: "Strike Group" uses mixed-reality technology to provide an immersive experience of naval operations, such as flying an F-35C Lightning II or participating in a submarine mission.
• Simulated Missions: Students can participate in realistic scenarios, such as launching aircraft from an aircraft carrier or navigating a submarine under Arctic ice.
• STEM Showcase: The program aims to demonstrate the breadth and depth of STEM careers available in the Navy, including medicine, aviation, and nuclear engineering.

Maureen Lauder, PhD, Communications Manager
Karey Shaffer, MBA, Program Manager
Acquisition Research Program
Naval Postgraduate School
e: ARPEditor@nps.edu 

Note: Article summaries were generated with the help of AI tools.

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NEED TO KNOW

Acquisition Research Program Newsletter

February 21, 2025       —       Issue 231

This Week's Top Stories 

The Defense Innovation Unit staged a drone demonstration in November at Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms in California to update its Blue UAS List. (DIU)

Pentagon expands list of commercial drones certified for military use
Courtney Albon, Defense News

The Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) has expanded its Blue UAS List, adding 37 commercial drone systems and components certified for military use, pending final approvals. This move aims to provide warfighters with quicker access to needed capabilities, addressing concerns about security and supply chain standards in a rapidly growing market dominated by Chinese technology.

NPS Develops AI Solution to Automate Drone Defense with High Energy Lasers
Dan Linehan, Naval Postgraduate School

NPS researchers are using AI to automate drone defense with high energy lasers (HEL), improving the speed and accuracy of targeting to counter the increasing threat of inexpensive uncrewed autonomous systems (UAS).

By automating the tracking system of laser weapon systems (LWS), the operator can oversee the system instead of manually controlling it, greatly enhancing decision advantage.

• Student Contributions: Officer-students have contributed research that has led to the award of 15 Master's and two doctoral degrees.

The future of military logistics is predictive
Charles Hamilton, Defense One

Traditional reactive logistics models are dangerously outdated, as demonstrated by Russia's sustainment failures in the Ukraine war.

• Data-driven logistics: Ukraine, with Western support, has demonstrated the power of data-driven logistics, using predictive analytics to forecast needs and maintain weapons systems.
• Precision sustainment: At the tactical level, "precision sustainment" is critical, ensuring unit commanders have the right equipment and supplies at the right time and place. Predictive logistics can optimize what gets moved, where, and when, predicting when vehicle components will likely fail and enabling proactive replacement.
• Strategic advantage: Predictive logistics is essential for managing vast distances in modern conflict, especially in areas like the Indo-Pacific theater, enabling smarter decisions about production, storage, and distribution.

The Secret War Within the Pentagon
Michael Klare, Foreign Policy in Focus

A shifting landscape within the military-industrial complex (MIC) reveals a clash between established defense giants and innovative Silicon Valley startups, potentially reshaping defense contracts, political dynamics, and military modernization. The rise of companies like Anduril, fueled by Silicon Valley's ethos and venture capital, challenges the traditional dominance of major contractors such as Lockheed Martin and Boeing.

• Anduril's Rise: Founded in 2017 by Palmer Luckey, Anduril aims to integrate AI into novel weapons systems and has secured significant Pentagon contracts, beating out traditional defense contractors.
• Key figures: Peter Thiel and Elon Musk, are backing companies like Anduril and SpaceX, and advocating for Pentagon reform to favor innovative technologies.
• Replicator initiative: The "Replicator" initiative, launched by the Department of Defense, seeks to expedite the delivery of advanced weaponry by awarding contracts directly to startups.
• Old guard response: Multibillion-dollar weapons companies are not likely to concede ground easily, setting the stage for a fierce competition that could divide political and defense circles.

House unveils budget plan with $100B boost for defense
Valerie Insinna, Breaking Defense

House Republicans have released a budget resolution that would allocate an additional $100 billion for defense spending. The House aims to pass a single bill that includes raising the debt limit and tax and government spending cuts, while the Senate is pursuing a two-bill strategy.

Leaders of House Armed Services Committee ask military services to list potential funding cuts
Svetlana Shkolnikova, Stars and Stripes

The leaders of the House Armed Services Committee are requesting that each military service identify programs and weapons that have become obsolete for potential budget cuts.

• Budget focus: The request is intended to allow the Committee to redirect resources to higher priority items that support the National Defense Strategy and achieve real deterrence.
• Past resistance: Lawmakers have previously resisted the Pentagon's efforts to retire outdated weapon systems, vehicles, and ships, and have added expenses the services did not request.

ARP and NPS News

PACIFIC OCEAN (Dec. 13, 2024) Aviation Boatswain’s Mate (Handling) 2nd Class Steven Crisologo, from the Philippines, assigned to the forward-deployed amphibious assault ship USS America (LHA 6), launches an F-35B Lightning II fighter aircraft from Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 242 from the ship’s flight deck. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Amy Cocoro Mullins)

Thinking Together, Winning Together: The USNA Warfighter-Centered Design Challenge
Commander Ken Maroon et. al., Center for International Maritime Security

Students in the Warfighter-Centered Design (WCD) Challenge hosted by the U.S. Naval Academy (USNA) have developed four low-cost concepts for augmenting the offensive and defensive capabilities of Unmanned Surface Vessels (USVs).

• NWSI partnership: NPS's Naval Warfare Studies Institute (NWSI) supported the challenge by curating real-life problems from warfighters and connecting participants with technical expertise and resources.
• Innovation pipeline: WCD is part of a broader initiative to develop innovation and problem-solving capabilities in junior officers.

NPS Develops AI Solution to Automate Drone Defense with High Energy Lasers
Dan Linehan, Naval Postgraduate School

NPS researchers are using AI to automate drone defense with high energy lasers (HEL), improving the speed and accuracy of targeting to counter the increasing threat of inexpensive uncrewed autonomous systems (UAS).

By automating the tracking system of laser weapon systems (LWS), the operator can oversee the system instead of manually controlling it, greatly enhancing decision advantage.

• Student Contributions: Officer-students have contributed research that has led to the award of 15 Master's and two doctoral degrees.

Who Is Paul Kapur, Trump's pick for Assistant Secy of State for South Asia?
Prateek Shukla, Business Standard

Paul Kapur, a professor of National Security Affairs at the Naval Postgraduate School, has been nominated for Assistant Secretary of State for South Asian Affairs.

Kapur is a widely respected scholar who has authored several influential books and academic papers on South Asian security. His research focuses on nuclear security, Indo-Pakistani relations, and broader South Asian strategic affairs.

If confirmed by the Senate, Kapur's appointment could signal a shift in US policy towards South Asia, potentially strengthening ties with India while adopting a more critical stance towards Pakistan.

Come Work for Us!

Full time Non-Tenure Track (NTT): Lecturer, Senior Lecturer or Professor of the Practice in Acquisition Sciences/Program Management

Department of Defense Management, Naval Postgraduate School, Monterey, CA

The Department of Defense Management (DDM) at the Naval Postgraduate School (NPS) seeks candidates for full-time, non-tenure track teaching positions in defense acquisition management with a duty location of Monterey CA. Responsibilities include teaching graduate courses in program management, advising student theses and projects, conducting defense acquisition-related research, and managing course/curriculum development and administration.

Acquisition

Former Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Space Acquisition and Integration Frank Calvelli in 2022 developed nine space acquisition tenets that are guiding Space Force reform efforts to speed development of new capabilities. (US Air Force photo by Eric Dietrich)

Space Force doubles down on acquisition reform ahead of DoD moves
Theresa Hitchens, Breaking Defense

The Space Force is actively pursuing acquisition reforms to accelerate the development of new capabilities while cutting costs by using fixed-price contracts and closely monitoring contractor performance. These reforms are guided by former space acquisition czar Frank Calvelli’s nine space acquisition tenets, which prioritize speed and a return to acquisition basics.

• Risk Assessment: The Space Force is reviewing high-risk programs under cost-plus contracts, considering converting them to fixed-price awards or breaking them into smaller components.
• Accountability Measures: The Department of the Air Force and the Space Force are implementing accountability measures to ensure good performance from both contractors and government program managers.
• Program Restructuring: Since May 2022, 14 major acquisition programs have had contracts or entire programs restructured or canceled due to skyrocketing performance costs.

The FY25 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA): Supply Chains and Acquisition Reform (Part 1)
Emerging Technologies Institute

Moshe Schwartz, acquisitions expert and former director of the Section 809 panel, unpacks the ins and outs of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), how to read it, and what the 2025 NDAA has to say about the industrial base, supply chain, and acquisition reform.

What the Pentagon might learn from Ukraine about fielding new tech
Jon Schmid and Erik E. Mueller, Defense News

Ukraine's successful adoption of commercial technology during the Russo-Ukrainian war offers valuable lessons for the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) on rapidly fielding new tech and improving acquisition processes.

• Drone Acquisition: The DoD might adopt aspects of Ukraine's drone acquisition approach, focusing on cheaper commercial drones that can be quickly modified for specific missions to collect intelligence or execute strikes.
• Policy Changes: Proposed policies to leverage U.S. commercial innovation include enforcing the Federal Acquisition Streamlining Act, establishing a new agency focused on rapid technology development, and increasing the reprogramming cap.
• Procurement Authority: Ukraine has expedited fielding by delegating procurement authority to the platoon level and establishing a high-tech military industry cluster in Kyiv.

Innovation

U.S. Airmen with the 156th Contingency Response Group, Puerto Rico Air National Guard, and the 136th Contingency Response Flight, Texas Air National Guard, off-load a pick-up truck onto a C-130J aircraft during a joint aerial port training at Muñiz Air National Guard Base, Carolina, Puerto Rico, June 27, 2024.

Air Logistics Optimization Prototyped for DoD
Defense Innovation Unit

The Department of Defense (DoD) is prototyping commercial solutions to optimize and automate flight scheduling, reduce fuel consumption, and enhance operational efficiency using partnerships with companies like Amazon Web Services, C3 AI, and Google Public Sector. These efforts aim to modernize logistics through faster, more effective, and cost-efficient tools.

DARPA Gets Word Out on Secure Software for Military
Stew Magnuson, National Defense

DARPA has developed mathematically-based approaches to producing software that cannot be hacked and is now looking to implement these solutions in legacy military systems.

• Industry Outreach: DARPA is spreading awareness of its open-source solutions that are affordable and scalable for both new and legacy software.
• Costly Patching: Fixing code vulnerabilities after the fact can cost billions, highlighting the need for resilient software programs.
• Mathematical Proof: DARPA’s approach involves mathematically-based methods that guarantee code integrity and prevent failures.

‘New’ F-35 Assembled from Two Wrecked Jets Makes Its First Flight
Unshin Harpley, Air & Space Forces Magazine

The Air Force has successfully assembled a functional F-35A fighter jet, tail number -5269, by combining parts from two previously wrecked aircraft, marking a cost-effective and innovative approach to maintaining its fleet.

This "Franken-bird" project showcases interagency collaboration and offers valuable insights for future aircraft reclamation efforts.

Microsoft debuts new superconductor chip designed for quantum computing
Alexandra Kelley, Nextgov

Microsoft has unveiled the Majorana 1, the world’s first quantum chip powered by a Topological Core architecture. It is designed to advance fault-tolerant quantum computing by utilizing unique topological qubits that are resilient to external errors.

This chip represents a significant step towards creating scalable and reliable quantum computers capable of processing large volumes of data.

Defense & Strategy

Adm. Samuel J. Paparo, commander of U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, delivers a keynote address at the Hawaii Military Affairs Council’s Biannual State of the Indo-Pacific event in Honolulu, Jan. 14, 2024. Petty Officer 1st Class John Bellino / U.S. Indo-Pacific Command

China is rehearsing for war, Indo-Pacific commander says
Jennifer Hlad, Defense One

U.S. Indo-Pacific Command leader Adm. Sam Paparo stated that China's military exercises around Taiwan are rehearsals for the forced unification of the island with the mainland, and he expressed concerns about U.S. readiness. He also noted cooperation between China, Russia, and North Korea.

• Readiness Concerns: Paparo highlighted challenges to U.S. readiness, including maintenance backlogs, low munition stockpiles, and aging platforms.
• Streamlining Acquisition: Paparo emphasized the need to streamline the Pentagon’s acquisition system to match the speed of combat.

Connecting the Force: Building US Military Interoperability for the Modern Battlefield
James Micciche, Small Wars Journal

The U.S. military must prioritize building connections and adaptability to effectively address the complexities of modern warfare against peer competitors in a rapidly changing, post-information age environment.

• Interoperability essential: The three dimensions of interoperability—technical, procedural, and human—should frame how the modern U.S. military builds a joint force capable of operating in a post-information age environment.
• Adaptability: Interoperability across all three dimensions increases a force's ability to change and adapt to adjust to any situation. Effectiveness requires a strategic culture that fosters institutional flexibility to achieve an accelerated innovation cycle.

Shooting the Archer not the Arrow
Nathan Mintz, Substack

Defense executive Nathan Mintz argues that strategies to counter Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) should target drone controllers rather than the drones themselves. He advocates for the development of systems that can trace and neutralize drone controllers to effectively counter drone threats. Current counter-UAS (C-UAS) systems predominantly focus on neutralizing or shooting down drones, which Mintz likens to "shooting the arrow, not the archer."

Industry

The Army received the new IVAS 1.2 prototype for a series of tests. (US Army)

Microsoft announces plan to slide $22 billion IVAS contract over to Anduril
Ashley Roque, Breaking Defense

Microsoft is seeking to transfer its IVAS (Integrated Visual Augmentation System) contract to Anduril as the Army contemplates a new competition due to delays and challenges in the program.

• Strategic partnership: Microsoft and Anduril are entering a strategic partnership to advance IVAS, with Microsoft Azure as the preferred cloud.
• Past issues: The IVAS program faced issues including soldier discomfort, system reliability, and design flaws, leading to multiple versions and testing.
• Anduril advantage: Taking over the contract could give Anduril an edge in the IVAS Next competition y providing access to government funding and additional time working with Army leaders.

RFI 

Production of High-Performance Magnets Returns To U.S.
Laura Heckmann, National Defense

MP Materials' new facility in Texas marks a significant step towards restoring a fully integrated domestic rare earth supply chain in the United States, reducing reliance on China and mitigating risks to the defense industry. The facility focuses on producing neodymium-praseodymium metal and magnets, essential for various defense systems.

• China's Control: China controls over 90 percent of the world's capacity for metallization and high-performance magnet manufacturing, creating a dependency for the U.S.
• Integrated Facility: The Texas facility is designed to be fully integrated, converting rare earth oxides into metal and magnets, reducing dependence on external raw materials and mitigating points of failure in the supply chain.

Congress & Government

In this 2022 photo, soldiers from the 780th Military Intelligence Brigade (Cyber) host a hackathon event in Odenton, Md., to generate interest and teach teens about OSINT, password cracking, and coding. U.S. Army / Steven Stover

Congress wants the Army to start collecting more open-source intelligence
Meghann Myers, Defense One

The 2025 NDAA contains a provision that suggests the Army may standardize its procurement of open-source intelligence (OSINT) collection software.

• Behind Industry: Excluding special operations, the systems used for collecting, analyzing, and disseminating OSINT are significantly behind industry capabilities.
• Broader Intelligence: The internet has created an overwhelming amount of publicly available information that is useful to military. OSINT is a key tool that, along with classified information, human intelligence, and signals intelligence, can be its own form of collection.

Research

An UH-60 Blackhawk flies multiple passes at different altitudes over the runway during a series of 5G avionics tests March 2, 2022, at Hill Air Force Base, Utah. A 5G mobile test station was used during the testing as part of demonstration to implement 5G technologies without compromising the safety of military and civilian aircraft. (U.S. Air Force photo by Cynthia Griggs)

Harnessing 5G-Era Innovations
Timothy M. Bonds et. al., RAND

This report explores how 5G technologies can provide innovative military capabilities to defend allies against potential adversaries, especially in the critical window before reinforcements arrive. The study emphasizes the importance of prompt and effective strategies, such as using time difference of arrival (TDOA) techniques to locate and target air defense radars, and recommends field experiments to validate these concepts.

Industry Partnerships for Crises
Defense Business Board

This report from the Defense Business Board (DBB) report emphasizes the importance of strengthening partnerships between the Department of Defense (DoD) and private industry to ensure a reliable and rapid "expand-on-demand" capacity during crises. The report identifies key findings and recommendations to improve these partnerships, addressing challenges such as demand inconsistency, adversarial relationships, and regulatory barriers.

The Autonomous Arsenal in Defense of Taiwan: Technology, Law, and Policy of the Replicator Initiative
Eric Rosenbach, Ethan Lee, and Bethany Russell, Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs

This report examines the role of autonomous weapon systems in the defense of Taiwan, focusing on Replicator Initiative, which seeks to counter China's growing military capabilities. The report assesses the challenges and opportunities presented by autonomous weapon systems in deterring Chinese aggression and ensuring regional stability.

Full Report 

Opportunities

White Sands, N.M. (February 09, 2020) -- Naval Information Warfare Center (NIWC) Atlantic engineers travelled to New Mexico to validated M-code on Joint Light Tactical Vehicle test platforms like the ones pictured here, resulting in the Marine Corps obtaining U.S. Space Force certification for next-generation GPS technology. (U.S. Navy photo by Joe Bullinger/Released)

Marine Corps looking for vendors to demo tech for mounted assured resilient navigation

Sensing grid should be ‘top priority’ for US Iron Dome: NORTHCOM head
RFI 
RFI 

Request for Information for Office of Naval Research Composites Manufacturing Technology Center (CMTC) Center of Excellence (COE)
 

Events

2025 DAU Acquisition Update
Leading with Purpose: Accelerating Capability to the Field
19 - 20 February 2025
Virtual

Creative Disruptors in the Desert
21-22 February 2025
Indian Wells, CA

PEO IWS Industry Day: Evolving the Competitive Edge
26 February 2025
Alexandria, VA

2025 Pacific Operational Science & Technology (POST) Conference
3-7 March 2025
Honolulu, HI

2025 Undersea Warfare Spring Conference
17-19 March 2025
San Diego, CA

2025 Munitions Executive Summit
18-19 March 2025
Parsippany, NJ

Building Critical Mineral Security for a Sustainable Future
30 April 2025
Washington, DC or Virtual

22nd Annual Acquisition Research Symposium & Innovation Summit
Creating Synergy for Informed Change - Transitioning Technology
7-8 May 2025
Monterey, CA

2025 ASNE Intelligent Ships Symposium
12-14 May 2025
Philadelphia, PA

DLA Supply Chain Alliance Conference & Exhibition
11-12 June 2025
Richmond, VA

Training & Simulation Industry Symposium (TSIS) 2025
17-18 June 2025
Orlando, FL

MODSIM World 2025
18-20 August 2025
Norfolk, VA

I/ITSEC 2025: Optimizing Training: Ensuring Operational Dominance
1-4 December 2025
Orlando, FL

Karey L. Shaffer, MBA
Program Manager
Acquisition Research Program
Naval Postgraduate School
e: klshaffe@nps.edu 

Note: Summaries were prepared in part by AI

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