Reforming defense department acquisition policy:...( COLLEGE PARK Md. There's no silver...)

COLLEGE PARK, Md. There's no "silver bullet" for reforming U.S. Department of Defense purchasing and acquisition policies, but they do need reforming, says University of Maryland public policy professor Jacques Gansler, who testified today before the Senate Armed Services Committee.

Gansler directed the Defense Department's acquisition operation during the Clinton administration and has served as a consultant for the Pentagon in intervening years. http://www.publicpolicy.umd.edu/facstaff/faculty/gansler.html

His testimony on S-454, the Defense Acquisition Reform bill, highlights the need for a new approach to defense acquisition, including research and development, to meet the new security challenges in the 21st century, as well as the fiscal realities.

Gansler recently published an article on the subject last fall before the election one of a series of essays prepared by the University of Maryland School of Public Policy faculty. http://www.publicpolicy.umd.edu/news/fall08-PubPolforWEB.pdf

Here's a brief summary of Gansler's prepared statement provided to the committee:

CHALLENGES

"I need not tell you that the U.S., in the 21st Century, faces incredible National Security Challenges brought on by dramatic world changes that require:

1) A new, Holistic View of Security (e.g., DoD, State, DHS, DNI, etc.) - utilizing both 'hard' and 'soft' power;

2) Addressing a Broad Spectrum of Security Missions - with great unpredictability (from Terrorism to Nuclear Deterrence);

3) Taking full advantage of Globalization (of Technology, Industry, etc.);

4) Recognizing the long-term National Security implications of: the global financial crisis, the impact of climate change, the need for energy security, the growing anti-globalization back
'/>"/>