HIGH STAKES, HIGH REWARD


EXPOS KEEP WORKFORCE UP TO DATE


Jim Simson, a vendor with Automated Business Power Inc., speaks to Sgt. Maj. Ricardo Samudio, U.S. Army Europe G-6 sergeant major, during the semiannual U.S. Army Garrison Wiesbaden Tech Expo Feb. 2 in Wiesbaden, Germany. Featuring more than 20 vendors displaying technologies for potential government use, including cybersecurity, mobile devices and communications, data storage and retrieval, and cloud computing, the expo is one of many ways Army acquisition keeps abreast of what industry is doing, in order to deliver cutting-edge products to the Soldier. (U.S. Army photo by William B. King, 5th Signal Command Public Affairs)


Previous issues of AL&T magazine also have explored the role of require- ments in the acquisition process, noting that requirements lay the groundwork for acquisition and play a major part in determining the success or failure of a program. If sound, achievable requirements are the foundation of the acquisition life cycle, then communica- tion takes it one step further. Dialogue among industry and program manag- ers from the government and military prevents the inefficient use of time and funding in pursuit of “unobtanium” and addresses affordability and feasibil- ity issues in requirements while they are still fixable.


Tis communication with industry is necessary to leverage the public funds pro- vided to industry for independent research and development (IR&D). Industry’s IR&D yields critical innovation for both DOD and the private corporations, which is why the government allows contrac- tors access to these public funds. Tere is also contractor research and development (CR&D) funding that does not come from public funds.


HUMAN, MEET COMPUTER


As part of their research to improve human-computer interaction, Institute for Creative Technologies researchers and engineers experiment with delivering virtual humans over mobile phones. The Army plans to recruit as many as 70 researchers to work at ARL-West, which is located at the University of Southern California’s Institute for Creative Technologies. The institute is in Playa Vista, about 10 miles west of the USC campus. (Photo by Stephanie D. Kleinman, SDK Photo & Design)


As the Army’s research, development and acquisition funding has declined, the defense industry has also reduced its CR&D. Tis makes IR&D more valuable. Te Army has succeeded in preserving its science and technology investment in the past year with funding for basic research and technology development that will help offset some of the CR&D reduction. However, in this fiscally constrained environment, it is even more important to collaborate with industry on IR&D to ensure that we leverage these capabilities to support our warfighters.


FACE-TO-FACE ENGAGEMENTS We recognize that open communica- tion is the backbone of military-industry


8


Army AL&T Magazine


July-September 2016


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