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Acquisition Leaders Converge on NPS by Kenneth A

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Acquisition Leaders Converge on NPS by Kenneth A UPDATE NAVAL POSTGRADUATE SCHOOL POSTGRADUATE NAVAL (U.S. Navy photo by MC2 Victoria Ochoa) Acquisition Leaders Converge on NPS by Kenneth A. Stewart Defense acquisition leaders recently converged upon Monterey, California for NPS’ 13th Annual Acquisition Research Symposium. Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Research, Development and Acquisition the Honorable Sean Stackley served as keynote speaker at the symposium. Stackley highlighted efforts to break through bureaucracy, and to streamline the defense acquisition process while calling upon policy makers to see the bigger picture. “Please [congress], no more policy, no more rules and regulation. We have plenty of policy, we need practices,” Stackley said. “Process is important, but it’s about product. It’s about putting weapons systems in the hands of Sailors and Marines around the world and giving them the confidence to do their jobs.” Stackley also pointed to regulatory red tape as an impediment to the acquisition process, noting some of its more frustrating consequences. NPS “When you sort through all the details, a story emerges – extraordinary things are possible when congress, the Navy and manufacturers work together to defend the nation.” — Assistant Secretary of the Navy (Research Development and Acquisition), the Honorable Sean Stackley “Admirals report to the Pentagon after solving the problems of nations with their fleets only to come to the pentagon and learn that they do not have the authority to approve a travel voucher to attend a conference,” explained Stackley. And while Stackley bemoaned the reality of an acquisitions work place where “lawyers out number engineers 10-1” and where “policy makers believe you can bend the laws of physics with a policy change,” he also called for optimism citing success stories born in the wake of WWI when construction of new ships was limited by treaty to just 27 tons and where forward thinking acquisitions professionals petitioned for a further 3,000-ton exception. That exception allowed for the building of two new battle cruisers, the Lexington and the Saratoga, which would become naval workhorses over the next 15 years as history-making aircraft carriers, noted Stackley. “When you sort through all the details, a story emerges – extraordinary things are possible when congress, the Navy and manufacturers work together to defend the nation,” said Stackley. p2 NPS Executive Ed Programs Have Broad Reach, Impact LGBT PRIDE MONTH p4 Biennial Symposium Advances Naval Mine Warfare p6 NPS, DLI Benevolence Boosts Brains June 2016 NPS Executive Ed Programs Have Broad Reach, Impact By Kenneth A. Stewart NPS has been at the forefront of the Navy’s efforts to provide its defense leaders with an eye toward creating sound fiscal policy and officers with a defense-focused graduate education for decades. By the efficient allocation of precious defense resources. Perhaps DRMI’s taking advantage of the intellectual capital among its faculty, however, mission can be best summed up in the words of former British Prime the university has developed several executive education programs Minister Winston Churchill who said, “Gentlemen, we have run out that broaden the impact of the NPS mission throughout the service of money. Now we have to think.” and the Department of Defense (DOD). Since its first course in 1965, DRMI has educated approximately Executive education offerings at NPS range from advanced topics 15,000 U.S. students and nearly 21,000 international students from in homeland security to tailored courses for senior military officers 171 different nations. DRMI graduates include prominent world and civilian leaders preparing for their next assignment, and from leaders like His Majesty King Abdullah of Jordan, several ministers defense resource allocation programs to efforts in building partner of defense and ambassadors, and other dignitaries from around capacity and strategic relationships. the globe. NPS’ Center for Homeland Defense and Security (CHDS) is the na- “Our goal is to develop a broad-based analytical framework for defense tion’s premier graduate education provider in homeland security. decision makers emphasizing the economic and efficient allocation of Beyond the master’s curriculum, CHDS offers an Executive Leaders defense resources, and to provide an environment for the comparative Program catering to senior gov- exchange of ideas related to the ernment executives and officers management of national security,” representing federal, state and said DRMI Executive Director Dr. local organizations with a stake Natalie Webb, a professor in NPS’ in homeland defense and security. Graduate School of Business and Their offerings answer critical Public Policy. questions in the realms of counter- terrorism, counter-radicalization, Under Secretary of Defense force protection, intelligence and (Comptroller) and Chief Fi- information sharing. nancial Officer, the Honorable Mike McCord weighed in on “It enables senior officials to in- DRMI’s continued contributions teract with homeland and na- toward the education of DOD tional security leaders in a way policy makers. that is not offered in any other place,” said CHDS Director Dr. “Many things have changed over Glen Woodbury. the last 50 years, from the Cold War to a man walking on the “This program has been a success. During a recent cohort of NPS’ Center for Homeland Defense and Security’s moon and the fall of the Berlin Our mission is to create a cadre of Executive Leaders Program, U.S. Border Patrol Chief Michael Fisher, above center, Wall. For DRMI to stay relevant leaders who can handle complex provided a first-hand brief on major challenges facing the U.S. law enforcement over this period of incredible issues and think critically,” added and border patrol communities. (U.S. Navy photo by MC3 Brian Abel) change is a remarkable testament,” CHDS Director of Communica- McCord said. tion Heather Issvoran. And NPS’ cadre of CHDS alumni have put those abilities to the test time and time again in crisis response The Navy Management Systems Center, which eventually became centers and battlefields around the world. DRMI, was established in 1963 by then Secretary of Defense Robert McNamara. Before he led the DOD, McNamara was the CEO of Ford “For example, when the Washington Navy Yard shooting occurred, Motor Company, and would eventually apply some of the private it was graduates of our master’s program here that led the response,” sector economic principles that led to his success in the automobile said Woodbury. Those responders included CHDS alumni John industry to the DOD. Donnelly Sr., D.C. Battalion Fire Chief, and Cathy L. Lanier, Chief, Metropolitan Police Department, Washington D.C. “McNamara installed the Planning, Programming and Budgeting System [PPBS], which is still in use today. It requires good economic Another major contributor to executive education at NPS is the analysis, because the main problem in defense economics is the university’s Defense Resources Management Institute (DRMI), which allocation of scarce resources among many competing interests under recently celebrated 50 years of educating national and international conditions of uncertainty,” explained unofficial DRMI historian and “Update NPS” is a monthly publication for students, faculty and staff of the Naval Postgraduate School produced by the Public Affairs Office. For additional copies, comments, or to suggest story ideas, contact the editorial staff at [email protected]. 2 NPS Professor Emeritus Dr. James Blandin. “We often bring together a variety of people, If the success of its distinguished graduates who have never gotten together before, from is any indicator, DRMI’s contributions to across foreign governments or our own the DOD and its most senior leaders have government and other agencies,” said CCMR FACULTY answered McNamara’s challenge. Director Richard Hoffman. news & notes NPS’ Center for Executive Education (CEE), as “We learn as much from the students as they its name suggests, is the Navy’s pre-eminent learn from us. We facilitate the discussion. Visiting NPS Professor of provider of customized executive education They all bring their individual perspectives, Operations Research Dan programs that address the strategic needs of experiences and expertise, but often times Nussbaum and NPS Depart- the Navy. One of several efforts, the Tailored they have not really come together to look ment of Operations Research Support Program, provides senior Navy of- at a problem, like what they would do to Senior Lecturer Greg Mislick ficers with a customized education immersed address a refugee flow, a natural disaster, or were recently named the 2016 re- in the global and regional challenges of their respond to a weapon of mass destruction,” cipients of the “Educators of the designated future commands. Hoffman continued. Year” award from the International Cost Estimating and Anlayis As- “The [Navy] wanted a way to provide addi- CCMR efforts have included advisory sociation (ICEAA). tional support to flag officers as they transi- missions to Albania, counter-terrorism efforts tion to positions of greater responsibility and in South East Asia, as well as work in the areas Nussbaum and Mislick will be hon- visibility,” said CEE Director Winli McAnally. of maritime security with special attention ored at the annual ICEAA sympo- “We help them see different perspectives of given to the challenges of human migration sium in Atlanta, Georgia June 8. The the business they will be doing. By gaining and regional instability.
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