This event has already taken place.
DATE: November 15, 2021
Watch the Mitchell Institute’s rollout for our newest forum paper: From EMD to Milestone C and Beyond: Common Issues that Affect Developmental Programs Transitioning into Production with report author Lt Gen Mark Shackelford, USAF (Ret) as well as Randall Walden, Director and Program Executive Officer for the Department of the Air Force Rapid Capabilities Office and Maj Gen Dwyer Dennis, USAF (Ret), Former Program Executive Officer for C3I and Networks.
DOD and Air Force leaders are unanimous that the United States must be able to deliver critical capabilities rapidly and at affordable costs to maintain deterrence in an era of intensifying great power competition. Unfortunately, past acquisition programs, and particularly aircraft development programs, have often failed to deliver desired capabilities on time and budget. In this timely study, Gen Shackelford examines eight aircraft development programs that encountered challenges at Milestone C, the critical transition period from development to production. He identifies several common issues and offers key insights which may aid future programs to adopt a realistic and proactive approach to delivering needed capabilities on budget and schedule.