Acquisition Research Program at Naval Postgraduate School

Senior leaders from government, industry, and the investment community gathered in San Diego last month for the inaugural Defense Industrial Base Consortium (DIBC) Symposium to explore solutions to the challenges facing the U.S. defense industrial base: https://lnkd.in/ezhdSxFf Ms. Carla Zeppieri, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Industrial Base Resilience, delivered opening remarks and highlighted the importance of the DIBC Other Transaction Agreement (OTA) in bringing together partners in the industrial base. “The DIBC OTA plays a critical role in the implementation of the National Defense Industrial Strategy by enabling rapid prototyping through flexible acquisition mechanisms,” she said. “The vehicle provides DoD with access to innovative supply chain solutions from industry, academia, and non-traditional defense contractors, including our partners in Australia, Canada, and the United Kingdom. This symposium offers an invaluable opportunity to learn and exchange perspectives when responding to the ever-changing landscape of defense requirements.” Read more below! #ExpandTheBase #NDIS

From this week's NEED TO KNOW newsletter. https://lnkd.in/dziFJEE One more thing... “A good Navy is not a provocation to war. It is the surest guaranty of peace.” President Teddy Roosevelt On October 13, 1775, the Continental Congress, meeting in Philadelphia, made a pivotal decision that led to the birth of the United States Navy. They voted to outfit two sailing vessels, each armed with ten carriage guns and swivel guns, and manned by crews of eighty. These ships were tasked with intercepting British transports carrying munitions and supplies to the British army in America. Over the course of the War of Independence, the Continental Navy sent to sea more than fifty armed vessels of various types. The navy's squadrons and cruisers seized enemy supplies and carried correspondence and diplomats to Europe, returning with needed munitions. They took nearly 200 British vessels as prizes, some off the British Isles themselves, contributing to the demoralization of the enemy and forcing the British to divert warships to protect convoys and trade routes. Photo: First Recognition of the American Flag by a Foreign Government, 14 February 1778 Painting in oils by Edward Moran, 1898. It depicts the Continental Navy Ship Ranger, commanded by Captain John Paul Jones, receiving the salute of the French fleet at Quiberon Bay, France, 14 February 1778. Earlier in the month, after receipt of news of the victory at Saratoga, France recognized the independence of the American colonies and signed a treaty of alliance with them. The original painting is in the U.S. Naval Academy Museum, Annapolis, Maryland. Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives. Catalog #: 80-G-K-21225

Department of Defense Management at Naval Postgraduate School offers both resident and non-resident graduate level degree and certificate programs in program management. These programs were newly accredited by PMI Global Accreditation Center. For more information and to apply see https://lnkd.in/giXQMNca

Deadline for symposium proposals is November 18. Have you considered any of these research questions on how acquisition and tech transfer intersect? Learn more here: https://lnkd.in/gXPgqsjW

Here I am earlier today at the Naval Postgraduate School, with a group of my students delivering a poster presentation on their proposed thesis topic. The students are enrolled in a one-year Master of Science in the Department of Defense Management at Naval Postgraduate School Leadership Education and Development program. The degree program provides graduate education and preparation for Junior Officers to serve as Company Officers at the United States Naval Academy for continued future service in the US Navy and United States Marine Corps. In total, six student teams shared their proposed thesis projects based on their work with me during the summer quarter. I’ll be seeing them again in person later in October when I visit the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, MD to deliver part of my “Communication Strategies for Effective Leadership” course.

Amanda's first symposium research paper with brother Alex "opened our eyes to the power of this information [publicly available contracting data] not only to conduct research, but also to develop tools and approaches to begin solving the very problems that we had uncovered in our research."  Thanks, Amanda Bresler, for taking time for this conversation and for doing important research that improves our understanding of defense acquisition as well as our ability to innovate in the space.

Wishing good luck to all this Friday the 13th! In this week's newsletter: The Air Force is putting AMRAAMs onto its first increment of loyal wingman drones. And two CCA prototypes from Anduril and General Atomics will be on display at next week's Air, Space & Cyber Conference in National Harbor. In our top story, the Army continues to make news for how it's buying software. Doug Bush talked about the modern software development multiple award IDIQ contract, which has received robust industry feedback. Despite some concerns, he's fine using cost-plus contracts as well as fixed price where appropriate and to save taxpayer money. The Army is also considering not specifying the contract type up front in a task order requirement, in an effort to keep all solutions on the table.  The Air Force is reportedly getting its first taste of capabilities through the Replicator initiative. The drones would support the Enterprise Test Vehicle (ETV) program, a collaboration with DIU aimed at designing and fielding an unmanned aerial vehicle capable of mass-production at low cost and high volume. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin wrote a detailed letter to lawmakers laying out the costs of the likely six-month continuing resolution. It's bad everywhere, with big ramifications for shipbuilding: there's no official appropriation yet for the second Columbia-class submarine, overhauls to two aircraft carriers would be delayed, and construction of destroyers would be slow down. The lack of FY25 funding increases exacerbate rising costs for labor and supplies. Speaker Mike Johnson is still aiming for a CR that includes the SAVE Act, which would require proof of citizenship from people registering to vote. Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle are calling for a "clean CR" without such a rider. In ARP news, we're thrilled to bring a short video interview with Amanda Bresler, captured at this year's symposium.   We hope this inspires you to submit your proposal to next year's Acquisition Research Symposium & Innovation Summit. https://lnkd.in/dziFJEE #govcon #defenseinnovation #research

Wanted: your research and innovative thinking! The call for proposals is now open for the 22nd Annual Acquisition Research Symposium & Innovation Summit, held May 7-8, 2025 in Monterey, California. This year, the symposium is combined with an Innovation Summit under the overarching theme of "Transitioning Technology." The goal of this dual event is to explore and promote innovative ways to transition technology from research and development to programs of record to support the warfighter. The Innovation Summit will feature panels designed to enhance understanding of current, past, and future innovation efforts across the defense innovation ecosystem. These panels will be composed of a curated selection of symposium research proposals and stakeholders from across academia, industry and government, bringing together diverse perspectives and areas of expertise. Proposals are due November 18, 2024. Learn more and submit your proposal: https://lnkd.in/gXPgqsjW This prestigious event is sponsored by the Acquisition Research Program, Department of Defense Management at Naval Postgraduate School, Naval Warfare Studies Institute at Naval Postgraduate School, Naval Postgraduate School, and the Naval Postgraduate School Foundation & Alumni Association. #defenseindustry #govcon #research #defenseinnovation #techtransfer #unmannedsystems #innovation #futurefleet The Acquisition Innovation Research Center (AIRC) Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition & Sustainment NavalX Trish Martinelli Todd Harrison Todd Lyons Pete Modigliani Matt MacGregor Florence Kasule Daniel J. Finkenstadt Anne Laurent William Treseder Will Roberts Amanda Bresler Alice T. Randy Pugh Kevin B. Smith Dave Nystrom Kaitie Penry Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Research, Development and Acquisition Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering Jerry McGinn, Ph.D. Greg and Camille Baroni Center for Government Contracting Dinesh Verma Hon. Nickolas Guertin Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) Dr. Rene G. Rendon, CFCM, CPCM, CPSM, CPSD, C.P.M., PMP Robert Mortlock Nick Dew Erik Helzer Jeff Dunlap Desiree Dillehay Alyssa Olson Software Engineering Institute | Carnegie Mellon University Gregory Sanders

#DYK that more than $36 billion has been obligated on contract to procure capabilities for Ukraine or replace equipment drawn down from U.S. stocks? Learn more about U.S. security assistance provided to Ukraine, as well as the associated acquisition and industrial base actions, below.   #SucceedThroughTeamwork

ICYMI, some big accomplishments and updates from A&S.