The Defense Department is facing critical gaps in its acquisition work force, potentially affecting its national security mission, according to the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO).
The GAO's report assesses DOD's ability to determine whether it has a sufficient acquisition work force, initiatives to improve and manage oversight of its existing work force and best practices that could help DOD make positive changes. In its analysis of key DOD studies, data from 66 major weapons systems program offices and interviews with officials from four program offices, GAO discovered numerous challenges facing the department.
The Pentagon does not collect or track information on contractor personnel, GAO found. Nor does it have enough information on why contractor personnel are used in certain situations. DOD also lacks key pieces of information on the use and skill sets of its contractors, which leaves the department unable to identify gaps in its acquisition work force.
Source: Aviation Week