Acquisition Management

To bolster its weapons acquisition process, the Defense Department (DOD) has sought to professionalize its acquisition work force through education, training, and experience requirements. DOD officials, however, are allowed to waive specific qualification requirements for acquisition personnel. During fiscal year 1992, officials approved 33 waivers for program managers, general officers, and program executive officers. Two recurring reasons were cited for these waivers: the individual lacked either the program management course or the requisite acquisition experience. Yet GAO found that nearly half of the individuals receiving waivers did not satisfy either requirement. Compared to the other services, the Army issued a disproportionately higher number of waivers for senior officials. Although the law clearly intends that senior acquisition officials be highly qualified in the acquisition discipline, the waivers indicate that many of these officials did not meet previously enacted training and experience requirements. The general practice of assigning to acquisition positions senior officers with little or no acquisition experience is at odds with the law's intent.

GAO found that: (1) DOD issued 33 waivers during fiscal year 1992, of which 30 were due to the individuals not having completed a required program management course or lacking the minimum required acquisition experience; (2) the Army issued a significantly higher proportion of waivers than the other services; and (3) the services gave waivers predominantly to general officers with extensive operational experience, but little acquisition experience.