Arming America at War a Model for Rapid Defense Acquisition in Time of War

A volume in Research in Public Management
Series Editors: Lawrence R. Jones, Naval Postgraduate School
This book follows the evolution of a model for quick and efficient national defense war fighting asset
acquisition during time of war. It documents the case of a critically important war fighting acquisition program
from initial needs identification and program start in 2006 through production and fielding in the period 2007-
2010. The analysis focuses on the entire process of acquisition and contracting from concept development
through getting the weapons system into action in Iraq, Afghanistan and elsewhere. The Mine Resistant
Ambush Protected vehicles program (MRAP) is a rapid acquisition program procured within the context of the
US Department of Defense's Acquisition Management and Joint Capabilities Integration and Development System (JCIDS) framework.
The analysis in this book answers the following question: What are the key factors that explain the success of the MRAP program, with success
defined as meeting program objectives and warfighter needs? In addition, this book addresses the critical trade-offs made within the MRAP program
to develop it rapidly, and some of the potential long-term impacts of these decisions, both positive and negative, for rapid defense asset acquisition in
time of war.