Departing Pentagon acquisitions czar John Young expressed numerous frustrations with the Defense Department and the defense acquisition process this morning in a farewell roundtable with reporters.

“I leave here as an unemployed individual,” Young said, describing his existence in his job as that of a monk. “You get all kinds of restrictions on you” for trying to help your country. “I don’t get to participate in the economy like a normal citizen,” he added, referring to conflict-of-interest rules that prohibit him from buying stocks, for example.

Young detailed his concerns for the future of acquisition, citing problems ranging from an insufficient workforce to a lack of flexible funding. And yet, “I’m not prepared to say that [the] acquisition system is broken,” he said. What is broken are sources affecting the acquisition system, including funding, the requirements process and program managers who are bogged down by an inefficient process.

Young does not believe more legislation is the answer to current problems. Both the House and Senate Armed Services committees recently introduced bills that would ostensibly boost oversight of systems engineering and cost estimation. “Some of the concepts are good,” said Young, who further noted that he championed similar provisions. However, Young feels there is a perception “that you can write enough rules and restrictions to ensure a successful program outcome,” which he compared to trying to mandate an end to crime. “The bottom line is that people run programs, not documents and not processes.”

One of the more controversial programs Young leaves behind is the competition for a replacement for Air Force aerial refueling tankers. He said the government could run a straightforward “best-value” competition, “but not with 800 requirements, almost all of which are tradeable.” He advised articulating a smaller set of requirements “and be crystal clear” about them. Young suggested that the DOD consider reviewing all the proposals, “ask for the best deal and take it.”

“I struggle to see a downside,” he said.

Photo: DoD