NPS-AM-08-114 ^`nrfpfqflk=oÉëÉ~êÅÜ= péçåëçêÉÇ=oÉéçêí=pÉêáÉë= = The Land Warrior Soldier System: A Case Study for the Acquisition of Soldier Systems 15 December 2008 by Nile L. Clifton Jr., MAJ, USA, and Douglas W. Copeland, MAJ, USA Advisors: Dr. Keith Snider, Associate Professor Michael W. Boudreau, Senior Lecturer Graduate School of Business & Public Policy Naval Postgraduate School Approved for public release, distribution is unlimited. Prepared for: Naval Postgraduate School, Monterey, California 93943 = ^Åèìáëáíáçå=oÉëÉ~êÅÜ=mêçÖê~ã= do^ar^qb=p`elli=lc=_rpfkbpp=C=mr_if`=mlif`v= k^s^i=mlpqdo^ar^qb=p`elli= The research presented in this report was supported by the Acquisition Chair of the Graduate School of Business & Public Policy at the Naval Postgraduate School. To request Defense Acquisition Research or to become a research sponsor, please contact: NPS Acquisition Research Program Attn: James B. Greene, RADM, USN, (Ret) Acquisition Chair Graduate School of Business and Public Policy Naval Postgraduate School 555 Dyer Road, Room 332 Monterey, CA 93943-5103 Tel: (831) 656-2092 Fax: (831) 656-2253 e-mail: [email protected] Copies of the Acquisition Sponsored Research Reports may be printed from our website www.acquisitionresearch.org = ^Åèìáëáíáçå=oÉëÉ~êÅÜ=mêçÖê~ã= do^ar^qb=p`elli=lc=_rpfkbpp=C=mr_if`=mlif`v= k^s^i=mlpqdo^ar^qb=p`elli= Abstract This project provides an analysis of the Army’s acquisition of the Land Warrior (LW) Soldier System. Its objectives are to document the history of the LW and provide an overview of the program to establish the components of both its development and deployment and its associated business and management characteristics. The product is a document that provides an analysis of the actions taken and the obstacles encountered and how the materiel developers, warfighters, user representatives and lawmakers dealt with them. The LW need was approved in 1993. The requirement was to provide improvements for dismounted soldiers in the five specific capability categories of lethality, command and control, mobility, survivability, and sustainment. For a period lasting approximately 15 years, the LW has evolved. Despite this evolution, the Army terminated the program in FY 2007. Regardless, it has laid the foundation for follow-on soldier system initiatives. The LW was unsuccessful initially due to the misalignment of three interrelated and supporting components: 1) technical immaturity, 2) poor user acceptance, and 3) lack of senior leadership support. Successes that are more recent can be attributed to: 1) soldier-driven design, 2) improved technical maturity, and 3) proven employment of the system in combat by warfighters. Keywords: Land Warrior, Land Warrior Soldier System, Soldier as a System, Ground Soldier Ensemble, 4-9 Infantry Battalion, Unit System Integrators, TCM Soldier, PEO Soldier, Program Manager Soldier Warrior, Product Manager Land Warrior, General Dynamics C4 Systems, Net-centric Warfare = = ^Åèìáëáíáçå=oÉëÉ~êÅÜ=mêçÖê~ã= do^ar^qb=p`elli=lc=_rpfkbpp=C=mr_if`=mlif`v= = - i -= k^s^i=mlpqdo^ar^qb=p`elli= THIS PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK = = ^Åèìáëáíáçå=oÉëÉ~êÅÜ=mêçÖê~ã= do^ar^qb=p`elli=lc=_rpfkbpp=C=mr_if`=mlif`v= = - ii -= k^s^i=mlpqdo^ar^qb=p`elli= Acknowledgments We dedicate this project to the fallen soldiers of 4-9 Infantry Battalion “Manchus.” Without their sacrifice and the sacrifice of other fallen heroes in past wars and in the Global War on Terror, our way of life would be in peril. Pfc. Bryant Christopher Compean, 19, of El Campo, TX, died October 24, 2006, from injuries sustained during a training accident at Yuma Proving Ground, AZ. Staff Sgt. David C. Kuehl, 27, of Wahpeton, ND, died May 22, 2007, in Taji, Iraq, of wounds suffered when an improvised explosive device detonated near his unit. Staff Sgt. Kristopher A. Higdon, 25, of Odessa, TX, and Pfc. Robert A. Worthington, 19, of Jackson, GA, died May 24, 2007, in Taji, Iraq, of wounds suffered when an improvised explosive device detonated near their unit. Spc. Mathew P. LaForest, 21, of Austin, TX, died May 25, 2007, in Taji, Iraq, of injuries suffered when his unit came in contact with enemy forces using small arms fire during combat operations. Pfc. Willard M. Kerchief III, 21, of Evansville, IN, died August 16, 2007, in Balad, Iraq, of wounds suffered from enemy small arms fire during combat operations in Taramiyah, Iraq. Cpl. Graham M. McMahon, 22, of Corvallis, OR, died September 19, 2007, in Balad, Iraq, from a non-combat related illness. All soldiers were assigned to the 4th Battalion, 9th Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division (Stryker Brigade Combat Team), Fort Lewis, Washington. We would also like to take this opportunity to thank a few key individuals that made this project possible. While this list is long, it is not all encompassing. There are thousands of people out there who have made and are currently making a difference for soldiers. Dr. Keith Snider, our principle advisor, and Colonel (Retired) Michael Boudreau were instrumental to our efforts. Their guidance and key insights were both educational and supportive and helped shape a seemingly difficult task into an enjoyable and beneficial experience. Likewise, Dr. Richard Doyle was vital to our understanding and interpretation of the budgetary system. Former Assistant Secretary of the Army for Acquisition, Logistics and Technology, Lieutenant General (Retired) Joe Yakovac; current and former Program Executive Officers Soldier, Brigadier General Robert Brown and Brigadier General (Retired) Jamie Moran; former Program Manager Soldier Warrior, Colonel (Retired) Dave Hanson; current and former Product Managers Land Warrior, Lieutenant Colonel Brian Cummings and Lieutenant Colonel (Retired) Dave Gallop. With assistance ranging from mentorship to personal insights, they were all key contributors to this effort. Their patience, candor and the access they provided proved essential to our research. We recognize Colonel Jim Riley, current TRADOC Capability Manager Soldier; Colonel Ernie Forrest and Colonel Greg Kane, former TRADOC Capability Managers Soldier; Lieutenant Colonel (Retired) Pat Berger, = = ^Åèìáëáíáçå=oÉëÉ~êÅÜ=mêçÖê~ã= do^ar^qb=p`elli=lc=_rpfkbpp=C=mr_if`=mlif`v= = - iii -= k^s^i=mlpqdo^ar^qb=p`elli= Deputy TRADOC Capability Manager Soldier; Lieutenant Colonel Ken Sweat and Majors Paul Mazure, Ted Qualls, Jim Wanner and Mike Cahill, Assistant TRADOC Capability Managers Soldier, for their dedication to the US Army Soldier and their unparalleled support of this project. We thank Mr. Dave Libersat and Ms. Kelly Castillo, Director of Combat Developments–Soldier as a System, for their unwavering support for soldiers and soldier programs. Dr. Jean Dyer, Army Research Institute, has been instrumental to the foundation for much of the soldier system research done over the last sixteen years. Without her intellectual work, Land Warrior would never have been a reality. Likewise, we appreciate the great efforts of the TRADOC Analysis Centers, both at White Sands and Monterey. Specifically, we would like to thank Major Pedro Habic, Mr. Kevin Wainer and Mr. Mike Hall for their analytic efforts in support of soldier programs. We also appreciate the hard work of the former Soldier Integrated Protective Ensemble Advanced Technology Demonstration and Future Force Warrior Advanced Technology Demonstration Technical Program Manager, Ms. Carol Fitzgerald and user counterpart, Command Sergeant Major (Retired) Sam Spears. Their efforts and those of their team accelerated the Land Warrior concept from need to technology and beyond. Command Sergeant Major (Retired) Phil Pitch and Sergeant First Class (Retired) Chris Augustine and their team of Unit System Integrators were essential to the 4-9 Infantry’s success with Land Warrior, as well as to our research. We also appreciate the unfettered access and honesty of the General Dynamics C4 Systems team, Mr. Mark Showah, Mr. Ron Wood, Ms. Susan Pasternak, Mr. Roger Spears, Mr. Richard Coupland and Mr. Paul Kempin. Your efforts as the prime contractor for Land Warrior deserve every accolade. Your support of Army soldier programs has been a paragon for the defense industry. We would like to thank our families for their unwavering support and understanding as we took their free time to accomplish this project. Lieutenant Colonel (Promotable) W.W. Prior and his “Manchu” battalion deserve the most thanks of all. Their dedication to the defense of our nation and the future of our Army remains an example for others to follow. = = ^Åèìáëáíáçå=oÉëÉ~êÅÜ=mêçÖê~ã= do^ar^qb=p`elli=lc=_rpfkbpp=C=mr_if`=mlif`v= = - iv -= k^s^i=mlpqdo^ar^qb=p`elli= About the Authors Major Nile Clifton, United States Army, received his Master’s of Business Administration (with an emphasis in Systems Acquisition Management) from the Naval Postgraduate School, Monterey, CA. Major Clifton completed his undergraduate studies, as well as a Master’s of Criminal Justice Administration, at Oklahoma City University, Oklahoma City, OK. Prior to his assignment at NPS, Major Clifton held various leadership positions within the Military Police Corps. After transitioning to the Acquisition Corps, he most recently served as a Combat Developer at Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC), Fort Monroe, VA. His next assignment is to the Army Materiel Command, with duty at Fort Sam Houston, TX, as an Expeditionary Contracting Officer. Major Doug Copeland, United States Army, received his Master’s of Business Administration (with an emphasis in Systems Acquisition Management) from the Naval Postgraduate School, Monterey, CA. Major Copeland completed his undergraduate studies at Texas Christian University, Fort Worth, TX. Prior to his assignment at NPS, Major Copeland held various leadership positions within the Infantry. After transitioning to the Acquisition Corps, he most recently served as the Assistant TRADOC Capability Manager–Soldier, Fort Benning, GA. His next assignment is to the Program Executive Office, Soldier, Fort Belvoir, VA, with duty at Fort Bliss, TX, as the Assistant Program Manager for the Ground Soldier System.