ASC Technology Challenges… and Opportunities

Air Force Materiel Command ASC Technology Challenges… and Opportunities Lt Gen Tom Owen ASC/CC 3 Sep 09 Integrity  Service  Excellence

Overview • Strategic Direction • Technology Needs • Challenges & Opportunities • Maintaining Technological Advantage • Tech Transition – “Valley of Death” • Sustainment & Manufacturing • Changes in Acquisition Policy

Strategic Direction IMPERATIVE: WE MUST THINK “SYSTEMS ENGINEERING,” NOT “POINT SOLUTIONS.” WE MUST THINK “ENTERPRISE,” NOT “STOVEPIPE.” • The Air Force must prevail in today's and tomorrow’s war as part of a joint, coalition team: • In a fiscally constrained environment • In a world of rapidly changing, globally available technologies • With tightly integrated capabilities • Need to leverage technologies and focus investments to maximize warfighter capability

Strategic Direction Dynamics & Challenges of Technology Environment Internal and External Influences Organizational Perspectives End State Objectives Vision & Strategy Tech Push PPBE, DAS, JCIDS Policy Roadmaps Mature technology Balanced S&T Budget Better/affordable w/f systems Decision-quality information Transition funding AF – CRRA MAJCOMs - ATCs PROD CTR - PEO-TEO ALCs - STP, S3C LAB – FLTCs Others - Focused Orgs ID TECH NEEDS DEVELOP TECHNOLOGY SOLUTIONS PLAN AND PROGRAM Risk Assessments Systems Engineering & Analysis Needs Assessments Prioritization Common, consistent analytical underpinning

Technology NeedsTechnology Continuum - PEO-TEO - FLTCs - PEO-TEO - Sustainment Tech DEPENDING ON TIMEFRAME . . . THE FOCUS AND THE LEAD CHANGES

Technology NeedsFocused Long Term Challenges (FLTCs) EIGHT GAME-CHANGING CAPABILITIES

Technology NeedsPEO-TEO Tier 1

Technology NeedsSustainment Non-Destructive Inspection Technologies Manufacturing Technologies Coatings Technologies Corrosion Control Technologies Composite Technologies Continuous Condition Monitoring Maintenance Acceleration/Increased Density Improved Reliability Improved Agile Combat Support Energy Transformation Reduced Environmental Impact

Maintaining Tech Advantage • Air Force must: • Field new technology rapidly • Maintain the technological edge • Share solutions across the enterprise • Leverage the best technology available • Rapidly transition technology into new systems • Refresh technology to maintain advantages • Protect leading-edge research and technology TECH TRANSITION IS AN “AIR FORCE” LEVEL ISSUE

Maintaining Tech AdvantageFrom the Past to Where We’re Headed "Point-to-point“ Solutions Result in poor communication 'TO BE' Tenets JCIDS PPBE DAS J F M A M J J A S O N D Academia ATC Primes ATP HAF/SAF Community +Joint Partners PEO- TEO AFRL AF S&T Community Operational Community STP DP DP TTO +Services +Academia +Industry . . . +COCOMs SBIR Materiel Community Industry PM/SM IRAD CBA Plan Acq Sustain +Primes + Depots FLTCs $$ MAJCOM Transition • Stood-up because “something" was missing • Some great bi-lateral relationships • Pocket best practices • Ad hoc, chaotic • Success dependent on individuals' heroics • Lack of cross-flow of information • Inefficient & ineffective • Decisions made in isolation • Linked DoD decision processes • Partnerships established • Leveraging cross-cutters • Affordable solutions

Technology Transition“Valley of Death” CURRENT PROCESS DEMANDS HEROIC EFFORTS TO TRANSITION TECHNOLOGY • If sufficient R&D funding, we have a robust process through Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 6 • Transitioning from TRL 6 to actual acquisition (“Valley of Death”) takes planning and foresight • Budget for development • Budget for acquisition • Plan for program management • Stakeholder participation and ownership • Current solutions are focused and specific • Funding may come from multiple sources

Technology TransitionImproving Technology Insertion CREATION OF THE SUSTAINMENT TECHNOLOGY PROCESS • Reduce redundant technology insertion efforts • Perform intentional technology transfer • Plan for bridging the “Valley of Death” • Attempt to get dedicated insertion funding • Attempt to expand the definition of sustainment to include natural sustainment technology growth • Work together and be smarter • Develop comprehensive roadmaps • Provide centralized repository of technology needs • Rack & stack based on Air Force needs

J F M A M J J A S O N D J F M A M J J A S O N D Technology TransitionStrategic Rhythm Even CY APOM Build Odd FY PB Even FY PB POM Build APOM POM AFRL POM APOM Kickoff Guidance to TDs POM Kickoff Submit-AFMC Guidance to TDs Submit-AFMC Tech Needs for POM Year Updates to Tech Needs Needs ID O-6Baseline & Guidance Prep Kickoff Prep Kickoff Product Center Needs ID/Review Identify Review Technology Fit Technology Fit AFRL Option Development Options AFRL Corp Board Review/Approval If Necessary Mid Oct Mid Oct Sustainment Technology Process Reviews Collaboration Approval Collaboration AFRL/Center Option/Solution Collaboration O-6 Validation/ Prioritization Date set by Product Center Date set by Product Center PEO-TEO Approval Condensed Step 1/Step 2 Dispostion Center Industry Days Timeframe Step 1/Step 2 IRAD/SBIR Topics Submitted IRAD/SBIR Topics Submitted MAJCOM ATC Meetings Event Window Date set by MAJCOM Date set by MAJCOM

Sustainment & Manufacturing CHARACTERISTICS OF SUCCESSFUL PROGRAMS (GAO): MATURE TECHNOLOGIES, STABLE DESIGNS, PRODUCTION PROCESSES IN CONTROL • Sustainment Technology Process (STP) • AFMC/CV directed creation of STP • Stakeholders: ALCs, AFMC, AFRL, ACC, ASC, AMC, ESC, AFSOC, AMARG, plus industry and academia • Process designed to encourage cooperation and synergy regarding technology insertion • Manufacturing Maturity • Manufacturing readiness impacts program cost, schedule, and field performance • AF is adopting MRLs, MRAs, and proven best manufacturing practices to assess manufacturing maturity

Changes in Acquisition PolicyCSAF & SECAF Acquisition Improvement Plan “THE UNITED STATES AIR FORCE IS COMMITTED TO RECAPTURING ACQUISITION EXCELLENCE…” Revitalize the acquisition workforce Improve the requirements generation process Instill budget and financial discipline Improve AF major systems source selections Establish clear lines of authority and accountability within the acquisition organizations

Changes in Acquisition PolicySpecific ASC Business Initiatives • Reduce the Undefinitized Contract Award dependency • Manage/definitize those we have • Move away from Cost Plus Fixed Fee & Cost Plus Award Fee contracts--cost control • Demand more as the customer • Profit = risk • Reduce proposal lead time and improve quality • Drive requirements stability • Simplify source selections and acquisition strategies

5000.02 Major Changes Changes in Acquisition PolicyNew Acquisition Policy

Changes in Acquisition PolicyNew Acquisition Policy • More robust Systems Engineering • Technical risk reduction • Competitive prototyping • Independent SME reviews • Additional program documentation

Conclusion REQUIRES A TEAM EFFORT—INDUSTRY IS AN ESSENTIAL PARTNER THROUGHOUT ENTIRE PROCESS • Strategic Direction • PEO/TEO Tech Needs • Challenges & Opportunities • Changes in Acquisition Policy

Questions?

ASC Technology Challenges… and Opportunities