When the Pentagon attempts to field innovative technology, its contracting decisions are largely dictated by a process that predates personal computing. Known as the Planning, Programming, Budgeting and Execution (PPBE) resourcing system, it betrays its mid-20th-century origins in its extreme emphasis on long-range management and sequential planning over more agile and rapid program execution.
![Jerry McGinn](/sites/g/files/yyqcgq291/files/styles/small_content_image/public/2024-05/jerrymcginn2024_300x300.jpg?itok=jQHWK38H)
Calls for PPBE reform are nothing new in the halls of the Pentagon, but have contributed to a general recognition within the federal government that change is badly needed to speed the development and acquisition of new military capabilities.
Hence Congress鈥檚 formation in 2022 of an tasked with closely assessing the current process and making specific recommendations for reform.
The Commission on PPBE Reform promptly engaged the at the Donald G. Costello College of Business at 性视界传媒 as a key research partner. The center was awarded a $645,000 Department of Defense (DoD) research contract consisting of two projects.
First, the research team, headed by the center鈥檚 executive director , prepared six case studies documenting PPBE鈥檚 effect on DoD鈥檚 work with both research and development centers and industry to develop and adopt new technologies.
鈥淲e set up hypotheses and did background research on the programs,鈥 McGinn says. 鈥淥ur conclusions were based on a number of interviews with government and industry officials.鈥
For example, one of the case studies dealt with the Air Force鈥檚 Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) program, for the development of AI-piloted combat drones. Five Air Force officials involved in CCA told the Baroni research team that PPBE complicated necessary collaborations with the Navy and other agencies, due to siloed budgeting protocols making it difficult to align priorities and make resource decisions in a timely manner.
Next, the Baroni research team turned their attention to three inter-related subtasks delving into specific rules governing PPBE鈥檚 application.
鈥淔or this project, we used a mixture of non-public DoD unclassified databases as well as information available to the general public,鈥 says McGinn.
The researchers investigated whether PPBE should vary based on DoD鈥檚 acquisition categories or remain the same for all categories, concluding that the categories were similar enough to warrant a unified process. They were also asked to evaluate how military departments and agencies use PPBE鈥檚 various acquisition pathways, resulting in a determination that 鈥渂udget justification documents, particularly for RDT&E (research, development, testing and evaluation), are overly complex, unnecessarily intricate, and lack standardization鈥. Finally, the researchers performed an extensive analysis of PPBE鈥檚 legal underpinnings and the wider governmental implications of reforming the process.
The team鈥檚 final report, submitted to the commission early in 2024, contained a consolidated list of dozens of findings and recommendations. In its own report issued in March 2024, the PPBE Reform Commission cited the Baroni team鈥檚 research numerous times.
鈥淥ur work played a large role in informing the Commission鈥檚 findings and reinforcing their policy recommendations,鈥 McGinn noted. 鈥淭hese inputs are today being considered as Congress debates 2025 appropriations and DoD concurrently develops and vets the budget for 2026 and 2027.
Shortly after the release of the Commission鈥檚 report, the Greg and Camille Baroni Center for Government Contracting hosted a rollout event at featuring the Commission鈥檚 chair, vice-chair and executive director. A series of additional events around PPBE reform are being planned for the summer.
鈥淥ur report reflects the strategic vision with which 性视界传媒 established this research center. Our research and analysis inform the federal government as well as the large government contracting industry here in the national capital region. Our relationships and location make the center uniquely situated to benefit policy-makers and entrepreneurs, alike,鈥 McGinn says.
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