Author Description

Most major satellite systems currently in development have experienced gargantuan cost overruns and inordinate schedule delays in the last few years. Impacts could total over $20B over the next couple decades. Recent studies have pointed to a decline in the quality of the space acquisition workforce. The author compared how Air Force (AF) space acquisition professionals were managed two decades ago and how they are today. The author used the results to evaluate the ongoing efforts to reinvigorate the management of the workforce (WF) and made recommendations for further improvement.