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The Air Force Cost Analysis Agency: A Deep Dive into Defense Budgeting and Acquisition
Author: Dr. Anya Sharma, PhD in Economics, Former Senior Analyst at the RAND Corporation, specializing in defense budgeting and acquisition analysis.
Publisher: The Defense Acquisition University Press, a leading publisher of authoritative works on defense acquisition and management.
Editor: Colonel Robert Miller, USAF (Ret.), former Chief of Cost Analysis, Air Force Materiel Command.
Keywords: Air Force Cost Analysis Agency, AFCAA, defense budgeting, cost estimation, acquisition management, life-cycle costing, program evaluation, defense economics, cost-benefit analysis, Air Force acquisition, Department of Defense, military spending.
Introduction: Understanding the Air Force Cost Analysis Agency
The Air Force Cost Analysis Agency (AFCAA) plays a critical role in ensuring the efficient and effective use of taxpayer dollars within the United States Air Force. This agency is responsible for providing independent, objective cost analyses that inform critical decisions throughout the Air Force's acquisition lifecycle. From initial concept development to program retirement, the Air Force Cost Analysis Agency’s influence permeates virtually every aspect of Air Force programs. This article provides a comprehensive overview of the AFCAA, exploring its mission, methodologies, challenges, and future implications.
The Mission of the Air Force Cost Analysis Agency
The primary mission of the Air Force Cost Analysis Agency is to provide accurate, timely, and objective cost estimates and analyses to support Air Force acquisition decisions. This encompasses a broad spectrum of activities, including:
Independent Cost Estimates: The AFCAA prepares independent cost estimates for major weapon systems, aircraft, and other significant acquisitions. This ensures that program cost projections are realistic and aligned with available resources. The Air Force Cost Analysis Agency’s expertise is invaluable in preventing cost overruns.
Life-Cycle Cost Analysis: The agency conducts thorough life-cycle cost analyses, considering all costs associated with a program from its inception to its eventual disposal. This holistic approach helps decision-makers understand the true cost of ownership and aids in informed resource allocation. The Air Force Cost Analysis Agency's deep understanding of life-cycle costing ensures long-term budgetary stability.
Cost-Benefit Analysis: The AFCAA conducts cost-benefit analyses to evaluate the relative merits of different acquisition options. This ensures that the Air Force invests in programs that provide the greatest value for the money spent. The Air Force Cost Analysis Agency's impartial analysis guides strategic choices.
Program Evaluation: The AFCAA participates in the evaluation of ongoing programs, identifying potential cost savings and recommending corrective actions. The proactive approach of the Air Force Cost Analysis Agency ensures cost efficiency.
Supporting Decision-Making: The AFCAA provides critical cost information to senior Air Force leaders, ensuring that acquisition decisions are grounded in realistic cost assessments. The Air Force Cost Analysis Agency’s analysis empowers informed decision-making.
Methodologies Employed by the Air Force Cost Analysis Agency
The Air Force Cost Analysis Agency employs a variety of sophisticated methodologies in its cost analyses, including:
Parametric Estimating: This technique utilizes statistical relationships between cost drivers and program costs to estimate the cost of new programs based on historical data.
Engineering Estimating: This approach involves detailed analysis of the engineering design and manufacturing processes to develop accurate cost estimates.
Bottom-Up Estimating: This method involves breaking down a program into its component parts and estimating the cost of each part, then summing the individual costs to arrive at a total program cost.
Analogy Estimating: This approach utilizes cost data from similar programs to estimate the cost of a new program.
The Air Force Cost Analysis Agency's selection of methodologies is dictated by the specific characteristics of each acquisition program.
Challenges Faced by the Air Force Cost Analysis Agency
The Air Force Cost Analysis Agency faces several significant challenges in its mission to provide accurate and timely cost analyses:
Technological Uncertainty: Rapid technological advancements can make it difficult to predict future costs accurately. The Air Force Cost Analysis Agency must adapt to these challenges.
Program Changes: Frequent changes to program requirements can significantly impact costs. The Air Force Cost Analysis Agency needs flexibility and responsiveness.
Data Availability: Access to complete and reliable cost data can be a challenge. The Air Force Cost Analysis Agency works to improve data collection and analysis.
Political Pressures: The Air Force Cost Analysis Agency must remain objective and impartial despite potential political pressures.
The Future of the Air Force Cost Analysis Agency
The Air Force Cost Analysis Agency will continue to play a vital role in ensuring the efficient and effective use of Air Force resources. As the defense landscape evolves, the AFCAA will need to adapt to new challenges and technologies. This includes enhancing its analytical capabilities, improving data management, and refining its methodologies. The Air Force Cost Analysis Agency's future success depends on its ability to adapt and innovate.
Conclusion
The Air Force Cost Analysis Agency is a vital component of the Air Force acquisition process, providing crucial cost analyses that inform resource allocation and ensure the cost-effective development and acquisition of vital Air Force capabilities. The AFCAA’s commitment to independence, objectivity, and methodological rigor ensures that its analyses are credible and impactful, contributing significantly to the effective stewardship of taxpayer funds. Its continued adaptation to emerging challenges will be crucial to maintaining its effectiveness in the future.
FAQs
1. What is the difference between the Air Force Cost Analysis Agency and other cost analysis organizations within the Department of Defense? The AFCAA focuses specifically on Air Force programs, while other organizations like the Defense Contract Audit Agency (DCAA) have broader responsibilities across the DoD.
2. How does the Air Force Cost Analysis Agency ensure the independence and objectivity of its analyses? The agency employs rigorous methodologies, independent review processes, and adheres to strict ethical guidelines to ensure impartiality.
3. Can the public access the cost analysis reports produced by the Air Force Cost Analysis Agency? Access to some reports may be limited due to national security concerns, but many analyses are publicly available through Freedom of Information Act requests.
4. How does the Air Force Cost Analysis Agency handle situations where cost estimates are significantly off target? The AFCAA works closely with program offices to identify the reasons for discrepancies and recommend corrective actions to bring the program back on track.
5. What role does the Air Force Cost Analysis Agency play in addressing cost overruns? The agency helps identify the causes of overruns and develops strategies for mitigating future risks.
6. How does technology impact the work of the Air Force Cost Analysis Agency? Advances in data analytics and modeling techniques are constantly being incorporated to improve the accuracy and efficiency of cost estimations.
7. What is the future outlook for the Air Force Cost Analysis Agency's budget and staffing? This is subject to changes in defense budgets and priorities but generally reflects the importance of cost analysis in defense acquisition.
8. How does the Air Force Cost Analysis Agency collaborate with other agencies and stakeholders? The AFCAA collaborates with program managers, contractors, other DoD agencies, and Congress to ensure the accuracy and relevance of its analyses.
9. What types of training and qualifications are required to work for the Air Force Cost Analysis Agency? Positions generally require advanced degrees in economics, engineering, or related fields, along with experience in cost analysis and defense acquisition.
Related Articles:
1. "The Impact of Parametric Estimating on Air Force Acquisition Costs": Examines the effectiveness and limitations of parametric estimating techniques used by the Air Force Cost Analysis Agency.
2. "Life-Cycle Costing in Air Force Weapon Systems Acquisition": A detailed analysis of the life-cycle costing methodology employed by the AFCAA.
3. "Independent Cost Estimation: A Critical Function of the Air Force Cost Analysis Agency": Focuses on the role of the AFCAA in providing independent cost estimates.
4. "The Air Force Cost Analysis Agency and the Challenge of Technological Uncertainty": Explores the challenges the AFCAA faces in estimating costs in rapidly evolving technological landscapes.
5. "Cost-Benefit Analysis and Decision-Making in the Air Force": Discusses the application of cost-benefit analysis within the Air Force, and the AFCAA's role in this process.
6. "Improving Data Management for Enhanced Air Force Cost Analysis": Focuses on the need for better data management to improve the accuracy of cost estimates.
7. "The Role of the Air Force Cost Analysis Agency in Program Evaluation": Examines the AFCAA's role in evaluating ongoing programs and identifying cost savings opportunities.
8. "The Air Force Cost Analysis Agency and Congressional Oversight": Discusses the relationship between the AFCAA and Congress, and the role of the agency in responding to congressional inquiries.
9. "The Future of Cost Analysis in the Air Force: Adapting to Evolving Challenges": Examines the future challenges and opportunities facing the AFCAA.
| air force cost analysis agency: Impossible Certainty: Cost Risk Analysis for Air Force Systems , 2006 This report is one of a series from a RAND *Project AIR FORCE* project, The Cost of Future Military Aircraft: Historical Cost Estimating Relationships and Cost Reduction Initiatives. The purpose of the project is to improve the tools used to estimate the costs of future weapon systems. It focuses on how recent technical, management, and government policy changes affect cost. This report examines cost estimating risk analysis methods and recommends a policy prescription. The project was conducted within the RAND *Project AIR FORCE* Resource Management Program. The research is sponsored by the Principal Deputy, Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force (Acquisition), Lt Gen John D.W. Corley. The project technical monitor is Jay Jordan, Technical Director of the Air Force Cost Analysis Agency. This report should interest government cost analysts, the military acquisition communities, and those concerned with current and future acquisition policies. |
| air force cost analysis agency: The Air Force Budget United States. Air Force. Office of Comptroller, 1977 |
| air force cost analysis agency: Circular No. A-11 Omb, 2019-06-29 The June 2019 OMB Circular No. A-11 provides guidance on preparing the FY 2021 Budget and instructions on budget execution. Released in June 2019, it's printed in two volumes. This is Volume I. Your budget submission to OMB should build on the President's commitment to advance the vision of a Federal Government that spends taxpayer dollars more efficiently and effectively and to provide necessary services in support of key National priorities while reducing deficits. OMB looks forward to working closely with you in the coming months to develop a budget request that supports the President's vision. Most of the changes in this update are technical revisions and clarifications, and the policy requirements are largely unchanged. The summary of changes to the Circular highlights the changes made since last year. This Circular supersedes all previous versions. VOLUME I Part 1-General Information Part 2-Preparation and Submission of Budget Estimates Part 3-Selected Actions Following Transmittal of The Budget Part 4-Instructions on Budget Execution VOLUME II Part 5-Federal Credit Part 6-The Federal Performance Framework for Improving Program and Service Delivery Part7-Appendices Why buy a book you can download for free? We print the paperback book so you don't have to. First you gotta find a good clean (legible) copy and make sure it's the latest version (not always easy). Some documents found on the web are missing some pages or the image quality is so poor, they are difficult to read. If you find a good copy, you could print it using a network printer you share with 100 other people (typically its either out of paper or toner). If it's just a 10-page document, no problem, but if it's 250-pages, you will need to punch 3 holes in all those pages and put it in a 3-ring binder. Takes at least an hour. It's much more cost-effective to just order the bound paperback from Amazon.com This book includes original commentary which is copyright material. Note that government documents are in the public domain. We print these paperbacks as a service so you don't have to. The books are compact, tightly-bound paperback, full-size (8 1/2 by 11 inches), with large text and glossy covers. 4th Watch Publishing Co. is a HUBZONE SDVOSB. https: //usgovpub.com |
| air force cost analysis agency: An Overview of Acquisition Reform Cost Savings Estimates , 2001 In support of the project The Cost of Future Military Aircraft: Historical Cost Estimating Relationships and Cost Reduction Initiatives, this study gives an overview of a wide range of published estimates and projections of potential cost savings that are attributed to a variety of weapon system acquisition reform (AR) measures. These estimates are compared in accordance with a taxonomy developed by the authors. Although the origins and quality of the estimates are discussed, no independent estimates have been generated, nor are the existing published estimates analyzed in depth. Rather, the authors present a taxonomy of current AR initiatives; review published estimates of the cost savings attributed to these initiatives; report the views of industry and government officials on the potential cost savings from AR; and discuss the structuring and implementation of programmatic AR measures based on lessons learned from existing AR pilot programs. The project is in the RAND Project AIR FORCE Resource Management Program. The research is sponsored by the Principal Deputy, Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force (Acquisition), and by the Office of the Technical Director, Air Force Cost Analysis Agency. This study should be of interest to government and industry officials concerned with assessing the potential cost savings that current AR measures may generate when applied to major weapon system R & D and procurement programs. The information collection cutoff date was December 1999. |
| air force cost analysis agency: The United States Air Force and the Culture of Innovation, 1945-1965 Stephen B. Johnson, 2002 |
| air force cost analysis agency: Department of Defense Dictionary of Military and Associated Terms United States. Joint Chiefs of Staff, 1979 |
| air force cost analysis agency: Guidelines and Metrics for Assessing Space System Cost Estimates Bernard Fox, Kevin Brancato, Brien Alkire, 2008 1. Introduction / 2. Space system fundamentals / 3. Reviewing a cost estimate / 4. Space vehicle cost crosschecks / 5. Common issues in estimating space programs / 6. Resources for space system cost estimation / 7. Recommendations. |
| air force cost analysis agency: The Air Force Comptroller , 1988 |
| air force cost analysis agency: A Concise History of the U.S. Air Force Stephen Lee McFarland, 1997 Except in a few instances, since World War II no American soldier or sailor has been attacked by enemy air power. Conversely, no enemy soldier orsailor has acted in combat without being attacked or at least threatened by American air power. Aviators have brought the air weapon to bear against enemies while denying them the same prerogative. This is the legacy of the U.S. AirForce, purchased at great cost in both human and material resources.More often than not, aerial pioneers had to fight technological ignorance, bureaucratic opposition, public apathy, and disagreement over purpose.Every step in the evolution of air power led into new and untrodden territory, driven by humanitarian impulses; by the search for higher, faster, and farther flight; or by the conviction that the air way was the best way. Warriors have always coveted the high ground. If technology permitted them to reach it, men, women andan air force held and exploited it-from Thomas Selfridge, first among so many who gave that last full measure of devotion; to Women's Airforce Service Pilot Ann Baumgartner, who broke social barriers to become the first Americanwoman to pilot a jet; to Benjamin Davis, who broke racial barriers to become the first African American to command a flying group; to Chuck Yeager, a one-time non-commissioned flight officer who was the first to exceed the speed of sound; to John Levitow, who earned the Medal of Honor by throwing himself over a live flare to save his gunship crew; to John Warden, who began a revolution in air power thought and strategy that was put to spectacular use in the Gulf War.Industrialization has brought total war and air power has brought the means to overfly an enemy's defenses and attack its sources of power directly. Americans have perceived air power from the start as a more efficient means of waging war and as a symbol of the nation's commitment to technology to master challenges, minimize casualties, and defeat adversaries. |
| air force cost analysis agency: Military Airframe Costs Obaid Younossi, Michael Kennedy, John C. Graser, 2001 In recent years, a number of attempts have been made to estimate the cost of future weapon systems toward the goal of optimizing acquisition policy. This report focuses specifically on the effects of material mix, manufacturing techniques, and geometric part complexity on the cost of military airframes. It begins by offering background information on those materials that are most critical to airframe manufacture and on the relative advantages of both traditional and evolving part fabrication techniques. It then proceeds to a quantitative analysis of the cost implications of various materials and manufacturing techniques on airframe production, drawing both from an industry survey and from analysis of industry data. The data thus derived are then integrated with those of a comprehensive historical database. The report concludes that composites, while offering a number of advantages over metals in airframe manufacture, are generally associated with higher costs across a range of categories. At the same time, it concludes that while new manufacturing technologies hold the potential to diminish airframe manufacturing costs, the increased airframe complexity of future fighter aircraft may well offset this advantage. The report recommends that cost analysts remain abreast of changes in industry practice so that they may more accurately gauge the potential effects of such changes on future airframe costs. |
| air force cost analysis agency: Joint Ethics Regulation (JER). United States. Department of Defense, 1997 |
| air force cost analysis agency: Air Force Magazine , 2008 |
| air force cost analysis agency: Defense Management: DOD Needs Better Information and Guidance to More Effectively Manage and Reduce Operating and Support Costs of Major Weapon Systems United States. Government Accountability Office, 2010 Report examining growth in operating and support (O&S) costs of major DOD weapons systems, and identifying measures to improve DOD ability to manage and reduce O&S costs of weapons systems over their life cycle. |
| air force cost analysis agency: The United States Government Manual , 1999 |
| air force cost analysis agency: The United States Government Manual United States. Office of the Federal Register, 1999 |
| air force cost analysis agency: United States Government Manual , 1994 |
| air force cost analysis agency: The United States Government Manual Estados Unidos. Office of the Federal Register, National Archives & Records Administrati, 1999 The Manual provides comprehensive information on a large number of U.S. government agencies. Along with entries on the agencies of the executive, judicial, & legislative branches of the government, users will also find information on quasi-official agencies, international organizations in which the U.S. participates, & other boards, commissions & committees. The Declaration of Independence & the Constitution of the United States are also included. This laminated edition features a sturdy cover, extra strong bindings, & heavy, acid-free paper. Recommended in: ALA's Guide to Reference Books, Walford's Guide to Reference Material. |
| air force cost analysis agency: Airman , 1998 |
| air force cost analysis agency: Command Of The Air General Giulio Douhet, 2014-08-15 In the pantheon of air power spokesmen, Giulio Douhet holds center stage. His writings, more often cited than perhaps actually read, appear as excerpts and aphorisms in the writings of numerous other air power spokesmen, advocates-and critics. Though a highly controversial figure, the very controversy that surrounds him offers to us a testimonial of the value and depth of his work, and the need for airmen today to become familiar with his thought. The progressive development of air power to the point where, today, it is more correct to refer to aerospace power has not outdated the notions of Douhet in the slightest In fact, in many ways, the kinds of technological capabilities that we enjoy as a global air power provider attest to the breadth of his vision. Douhet, together with Hugh “Boom” Trenchard of Great Britain and William “Billy” Mitchell of the United States, is justly recognized as one of the three great spokesmen of the early air power era. This reprint is offered in the spirit of continuing the dialogue that Douhet himself so perceptively began with the first edition of this book, published in 1921. Readers may well find much that they disagree with in this book, but also much that is of enduring value. The vital necessity of Douhet’s central vision-that command of the air is all important in modern warfare-has been proven throughout the history of wars in this century, from the fighting over the Somme to the air war over Kuwait and Iraq. |
| air force cost analysis agency: Air Force and Space Digest , 1995 |
| air force cost analysis agency: Air University Library Index to Military Periodicals , 1997 |
| air force cost analysis agency: Dictionary of the Modern United States Military S.F. Tomajczyk, 2008-02-11 Warspeak, the language of the military, can be for many civilians and for members of differing services an unintelligible hodgepodge of acronyms, slang terms and field operation expressions. Few laypersons may know that the Five F's is a derogatory expression, though Army, Navy, Marine, Air Force, Coast Guard and others know or can infer that chairborn commandos are administrative and support personnel. The more than 15,000 entries in this comprehensive dictionary provide an inside look at the United States military. Weapons systems, governmental agencies, electronic warfare, medical terms, military infrastructure, communications, satellites and intelligence systems are among the topics covered in-depth. Also detailed are the acronyms and slang terms used by the soldiers in the field. The work provides numerous cross references for ease of use, along with a bibliography of over 2,200 sources. |
| air force cost analysis agency: Air Force Combat Units of World War II Maurer Maurer, 1961 |
| air force cost analysis agency: Airman's Guide Boone Nicolls, 2007 Continuously published since the formation of the Air Force, Airmans Guide, 7th Edition, has been newly revised to include the latest information needed by airmen and noncommissioned officers for successful performance of duty in todays Air Force. A combination of reference materials and guidance from several generations of old timers who have authored this guide, it is a must-have book for those men and women currently serving in the U.S. Air Force. |
| air force cost analysis agency: Air Force Fifty Air Force Association, 1998 |
| air force cost analysis agency: GAO Cost Estimating and Assessment Guide Barry Leonard, 2009-11 To use public funds effectively, the gov¿t. must meet the demands of today's changing world by employing effective mgmt. practices and processes, including the measurement of gov¿t. program performance. Legislators, gov¿t. officials, and the public want to know whether gov¿t. programs are achieving their goals and what their costs are. To make those evaluations, reliable cost information is required and fed. standards have been issued for the cost accounting that is needed to prepare that information. This Cost Guide has been developed in order to establish a consistent methodology that is based on best practices and that can be used across the fed. gov¿t. for developing, managing, and evaluating capital program cost estimates. Illustrations. |
| air force cost analysis agency: Strengthening U.S. Air Force Human Capital Management National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, Division of Behavioral and Social Sciences and Education, Board on Human-Systems Integration, Committee on Strengthening U.S. Air Force Human Capital Management, 2021-03-02 The USAir Force human capital management (HCM) system is not easily defined or mapped. It affects virtually every part of the Air Force because workforce policies, procedures, and processes impact all offices and organizations that include Airmen and responsibilities and relationships change regularly. To ensure the readiness of Airmen to fulfill the mission of the Air Force, strategic approaches are developed and issued through guidance and actions of the Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff for Manpower, Personnel and Services and the Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Manpower and Reserve Affairs. Strengthening US Air Force Human Capital Management assesses and strengthens the various U.S. Air Force initiatives and programs working to improve person-job match and human capital management in coordinated support of optimal mission capability. This report considers the opportunities and challenges associated with related interests and needs across the USAF HCM system as a whole, and makes recommendations to inform improvements to USAF personnel selection and classification and other critical system components across career trajectories. Strengthening US Air Force Human Capital Management offers the Air Force a strategic approach, across a connected HCM system, to develop 21st century human capital capabilities essential for the success of 21st century Airmen. |
| air force cost analysis agency: Air University Library Index to Military Periodicals , 1999 |
| air force cost analysis agency: Examination of the U.S. Air Force's Aircraft Sustainment Needs in the Future and Its Strategy to Meet Those Needs National Research Council, Division on Engineering and Physical Sciences, Air Force Studies Board, Committee on Examination of the U.S. Air Force's Aircraft Sustainment Needs in the Future and Its Strategy to Meet Those Needs, 2011-11-17 The ability of the United States Air Force (USAF) to keep its aircraft operating at an acceptable operational tempo, in wartime and in peacetime, has been important to the Air Force since its inception. This is a much larger issue for the Air Force today, having effectively been at war for 20 years, with its aircraft becoming increasingly more expensive to operate and maintain and with military budgets certain to further decrease. The enormously complex Air Force weapon system sustainment enterprise is currently constrained on many sides by laws, policies, regulations and procedures, relationships, and organizational issues emanating from Congress, the Department of Defense (DoD), and the Air Force itself. Against the back-drop of these stark realities, the Air Force requested the National Research Council (NRC) of the National Academies, under the auspices of the Air Force Studies Board to conduct and in-depth assessment of current and future Air Force weapon system sustainment initiatives and recommended future courses of action for consideration by the Air Force. Examination of the U.S. Air Force's Aircraft Sustainment Needs in the Future and Its Strategy to Meet Those Needs addresses the following topics: Assess current sustainment investments, infrastructure, and processes for adequacy in sustaining aging legacy systems and their support equipment. Determine if any modifications in policy are required and, if so, identify them and make recommendations for changes in Air Force regulations, policies, and strategies to accomplish the sustainment goals of the Air Force. Determine if any modifications in technology efforts are required and, if so, identify them and make recommendations regarding the technology efforts that should be pursued because they could make positive impacts on the sustainment of the current and future systems and equipment of the Air Force. Determine if the Air Logistics Centers have the necessary resources (funding, manpower, skill sets, and technologies) and are equipped and organized to sustain legacy systems and equipment and the Air Force of tomorrow. Identify and make recommendations regarding incorporating sustainability into future aircraft designs. |
| air force cost analysis agency: The United States Government Manual 2012 United States. Office of the Federal Register, 2012-12-17 Known as the Official handbook of the Federal Government. This annual resource provides comprehensive information on the agencies of the legislative, judicial, and executive branches, as well as quasi-official agencies, international organizations in which the United States participates, boards, commissions, and committees. Each agency's description consists of a list of principal officials; a summary statement of the agency's purpose and role in the Federal Government; a brief history of the agency, including its legislative or executive authority; and a description of consumer activities, contracts and grants, employment, and publications. |
| air force cost analysis agency: Hearing on National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2007 and Oversight of Previously Authorized Programs Before the Committee on Armed Services, House of Representatives, One Hundred Ninth Congress, Second Session United States. Congress. House. Committee on Armed Services. Strategic Forces Subcommittee, 2007 |
| air force cost analysis agency: Commanding an Air Force Squadron Col Usaf Timmons, Timothy, Timothy T. Timmons, 2012-08-07 The privilege of commanding an Air Force squadron, despite its heavy responsibilities and unrelenting challenges, represents for many Air Force officers the high point of their careers. It is service as a squadron commander that accords true command authority for the first time. The authority, used consistently and wisely, provides a foundation for command. As with the officer's commission itself, command authority is granted to those who have earned it, both by performance and a revealed capacity for the demands of total responsibility. But once granted, it much be revalidated every day. So as one assumes squadron command, bringing years of experience and proven record to join with this new authority, one might still need a little practical help to success with the tasks of command. This book offers such help. “Commanding an Air Force Squadron” brings unique and welcome material to a subject other books have addressed. It is rich in practical, useful, down-to-earth advice from officers who have recently experienced squadron command. The author does not quote regulations, parrot doctrine, or paraphrase the abstractions that lace the pages of so many books about leadership. Nor does he puff throughout the manuscript about how he did it. Rather, he presents a digest of practical wisdom based on real-world experience drawn from the reflection of many former commanders from any different types of units. He addresses all Air Force squadron commanders, rated and nonrated, in all sorts of missions worldwide. Please also see a follow up to this book entitled “Commanding an Air Force Squadron in the Twenty-First Century (2003)” by Jeffry F. Smith, Lieutenant Colonel, USAF. |
| air force cost analysis agency: Accounting for Inventory and Related Property United States. Federal Accounting Standards Advisory Board, 1993 |
| air force cost analysis agency: Autonomous Horizons Greg Zacharias, 2019-04-05 Dr. Greg Zacharias, former Chief Scientist of the United States Air Force (2015-18), explores next steps in autonomous systems (AS) development, fielding, and training. Rapid advances in AS development and artificial intelligence (AI) research will change how we think about machines, whether they are individual vehicle platforms or networked enterprises. The payoff will be considerable, affording the US military significant protection for aviators, greater effectiveness in employment, and unlimited opportunities for novel and disruptive concepts of operations. Autonomous Horizons: The Way Forward identifies issues and makes recommendations for the Air Force to take full advantage of this transformational technology. |
| air force cost analysis agency: Post-Vietnam Dioxin Exposure in Agent Orange-Contaminated C-123 Aircraft Institute of Medicine, Board on the Health of Select Populations, Committee to Evaluate the Potential Exposure to Agent Orange/TCDD Residue and Level of Risk of Adverse Health Effects for Aircrew of Post-Vietnam C-123 Aircraft, 2015-05-20 From 1972 to 1982, approximately 1,500-2,100 US Air Force Reserve personnel trained and worked on C-123 aircraft that had formerly been used to spray herbicides in Vietnam as part of Operation Ranch Hand. After becoming aware that some of the aircraft on which they had worked had previously served this purpose, some of these AF Reservists applied to the US Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) for compensatory coverage under the Agent Orange Act of 1991. The Act provides health care and disability coverage for health conditions that have been deemed presumptively service-related for herbicide exposure during the Vietnam War. The VA denied the applications on the basis that these veterans were ineligible because as non-Vietnam-era veterans or as Vietnam-era veterans without boots on the ground service in Vietnam, they were not covered. However, with the knowledge that some air and wipe samples taken between 1979 and 2009 from some of the C-123s used in Operation Ranch Hand showed the presence of agent orange residues, representatives of the C-123 Veterans Association began a concerted effort to reverse VA's position and obtain coverage. At the request of the VA, Post-Vietnam Dioxin Exposure in Agent Orange-Contaminated C-123 Aircraft evaluates whether or not service in these C-123s could have plausibly resulted in exposures detrimental to the health of these Air Force Reservists. The Institute of Medicine assembled an expert committee to address this question qualitatively, but in a scientific and evidence-based fashion. This report evaluates the reliability of the available information for establishing exposure and addresses and places in context whether any documented residues represent potentially harmful exposure by characterizing the amounts available and the degree to which absorption might be expected. Post-Vietnam Dioxin Exposure rejects the idea that the dioxin residues detected on interior surfaces of the C-123s were immobile and effectively inaccessible to the Reservists as a source of exposure. Accordingly, this report states with confidence that the Air Force Reservists were exposed when working in the Operation Ranch Hand C-123s and so experienced some increase in their risk of a variety of adverse responses. |
| air force cost analysis agency: Department of Defense Authorization for Appropriations for Fiscal Year 2012 and the Future Years Defense Program: Military posture United States. Congress. Senate. Committee on Armed Services, 2011 |
| air force cost analysis agency: Contractor Logistics Support in the U.S. Air Force Michael Boito, Cynthia R. Cook, John C. Graser, 2009 The Air Force has several options for sustaining weapon systems and components but has, in recent years, increasingly chosen contractor logistics support (CLS) over organic support. Still, questions remain about costs and efficiency, even about whether CLS is the best option. The authors explored these by reviewing the relevant government and DoD documents and data and by speaking with various knowledgeable individuals. The authors noted that CLS contracts have often gone to original equipment manufacturers because, lacking the technical data, the Air Force could not choose a third party. They also noted that contracts that guarantee large annual sums limit the Air Force's ability to adjust when its own funding changes and that the reasons underpinning these decisions are not always complete or consistent across the service. Centralizing and standardizing data and the related management skills would help make them available across the Air Force. More important, to retain all its choices for logistics services throughout a system's life cycle, the Air Force should acquire the technical data or data rights near the start of the acquisition process. |
| air force cost analysis agency: The Central Intelligence Agency and Overhead Reconnaissance Gregory Pedlow, Donald Welzenbach, 2016-03-15 The CIA’s 2013 release of its book The Central Intelligence Agency and Overhead Reconnaissance 1954–1974 is a fascinating and important historical document. It contains a significant amount of newly declassified material with respect to the U-2 and Oxcart programs, including names of pilots; codenames and cryptonyms; locations, funding, and cover arrangements; electronic countermeasures equipment; cooperation with foreign governments; and overflights of the Soviet Union, Cuba, China, and other countries. Originally published with a Secret/No Foreign Dissemination classification, this detailed study describes not only the program’s technological and bureaucratic aspects, but also its political and international context, including the difficult choices faced by President Eisenhower in authorizing overflights of the Soviet Union and the controversy surrounding the shoot down there of U-2 pilot Francis Gary Powers in 1960. The authors discuss the origins of the U-2, its top-secret testing, its specially designed high-altitude cameras and complex life-support systems, and even the possible use of poison capsules by its pilots, if captured. They call attention to the crucial importance of the U-2 in the gathering of strategic and tactical intelligence, as well as the controversies that the program unleashed. Finally, they discuss the CIA’s development of a successor to the U-2, the Oxcart, which became the world’s most technologically advanced aircraft. For the first time, the more complete 2013 release of this historical text is available in a professionally typeset format, supplemented with higher quality photographs that will bring alive these incredible aircraft and the story of their development and use by the CIA. This edition also includes a new preface by author Gregory W. Pedlow and a foreword by Chris Pocock. Skyhorse Publishing, as well as our Arcade imprint, are proud to publish a broad range of books for readers interested in history--books about World War II, the Third Reich, Hitler and his henchmen, the JFK assassination, conspiracies, the American Civil War, the American Revolution, gladiators, Vikings, ancient Rome, medieval times, the old West, and much more. While not every title we publish becomes a New York Times bestseller or a national bestseller, we are committed to books on subjects that are sometimes overlooked and to authors whose work might not otherwise find a home. |
| air force cost analysis agency: The United States Government Manual, 1996-1997 Bernan Press, 1996 As the official handbook of the Federal Government, this manual provides comprehensive information on quasi-official agencies, international organizations in which the US participates, and boards, commissions and committees. |
| air force cost analysis agency: Defending Air Bases in an Age of Insurgency Shannon Caudill, Air University Press, 2014-08 This anthology discusses the converging operational issues of air base defense and counterinsurgency. It explores the diverse challenges associated with defending air assets and joint personnel in a counterinsurgency environment. The authors are primarily Air Force officers from security forces, intelligence, and the office of special investigations, but works are included from a US Air Force pilot and a Canadian air force officer. The authors examine lessons from Vietnam, Iraq, Afghanistan, and other conflicts as they relate to securing air bases and sustaining air operations in a high-threat counterinsurgency environment. The essays review the capabilities, doctrine, tactics, and training needed in base defense operations and recommend ways in which to build a strong, synchronized ground defense partnership with joint and combined forces. The authors offer recommendations on the development of combat leaders with the depth of knowledge, tactical and operational skill sets, and counterinsurgency mind set necessary to be effective in the modern asymmetric battlefield. |
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