National Academies Press: OpenBook
Suggested Citation:"Front Matter." National Research Council. 2001. Review of the U.S. Department of Defense Air, Space, and Supporting Information Systems Science and Technology Program. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/10179.
×

Review of the U.S. Department of Defense Air, Space, and Supporting Information Systems Science and Technology Program

Committee on Review of the U.S. Department of Defense Air and Space Systems Science and Technology Program

Department of Military Science and Technology

Division on Engineering and Physical Sciences

National Research Council

NATIONAL ACADEMY PRESS
Washington, D.C.

Suggested Citation:"Front Matter." National Research Council. 2001. Review of the U.S. Department of Defense Air, Space, and Supporting Information Systems Science and Technology Program. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/10179.
×

NATIONAL ACADEMY PRESS
2101 Constitution Avenue, N.W. Washington, DC 20418

NOTICE: The project that is the subject of this report was approved by the Governing Board of the National Research Council, whose members are drawn from the councils of the National Academy of Sciences, the National Academy of Engineering, and the Institute of Medicine. The members of the committee responsible for the report were chosen for their special competences and with regard for appropriate balance.

Any opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this publication are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the organizations or agencies that provided support for the project.

International Standard Book Number 0-309-07608-0

Copies are available from:
National Academy Press
Box 285 2101 Constitution Ave., N.W. Washington, DC 20418 800–624–6242 or 202–334–3313 (in the Washington metropolitan area)

Copyright 2001 by the National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved.

Printed in the United States of America

Suggested Citation:"Front Matter." National Research Council. 2001. Review of the U.S. Department of Defense Air, Space, and Supporting Information Systems Science and Technology Program. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/10179.
×

THE NATIONAL ACADEMIES

National Academy of Sciences

National Academy of Engineering

Institute of Medicine

National Research Council

The National Academy of Sciences is a private, nonprofit, self-perpetuating society of distinguished scholars engaged in scientific and engineering research, dedicated to the furtherance of science and technology and to their use for the general welfare. Upon the authority of the charter granted to it by the Congress in 1863, the Academy has a mandate that requires it to advise the federal government on scientific and technical matters. Dr. Bruce M. Alberts is president of the National Academy of Sciences.

The National Academy of Engineering was established in 1964, under the charter of the National Academy of Sciences, as a parallel organization of outstanding engineers. It is autonomous in its administration and in the selection of its members, sharing with the National Academy of Sciences the responsibility for advising the federal government. The National Academy of Engineering also sponsors engineering programs aimed at meeting national needs, encourages education and research, and recognizes the superior achievements of engineers. Dr. Wm.A. Wulf is president of the National Academy of Engineering.

The Institute of Medicine was established in 1970 by the National Academy of Sciences to secure the services of eminent members of appropriate professions in the examination of policy matters pertaining to the health of the public. The Institute acts under the responsibility given to the National Academy of Sciences by its congressional charter to be an adviser to the federal government and, upon its own initiative, to identify issues of medical care, research, and education. Dr. Kenneth I.Shine is president of the Institute of Medicine.

The National Research Council was organized by the National Academy of Sciences in 1916 to associate the broad community of science and technology with the Academy’s purposes of furthering knowledge and advising the federal government. Functioning in accordance with general policies determined by the Academy, the Council has become the principal operating agency of both the National Academy of Sciences and the National Academy of Engineering in providing services to the government, the public, and the scientific and engineering communities. The Council is administered jointly by both Academies and the Institute of Medicine. Dr. Bruce M.Alberts and Dr. Wm.A.Wulf are chairman and vice chairman, respectively, of the National Research Council.

Suggested Citation:"Front Matter." National Research Council. 2001. Review of the U.S. Department of Defense Air, Space, and Supporting Information Systems Science and Technology Program. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/10179.
×

COMMITTEE ON REVIEW OF THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE AIR AND SPACE SYSTEMS SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY PROGRAM

EUGENE E.COVERT, Chair,

Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge

AARON COHEN,

Texas A&M University, College Station

ROBERT S.COOPER,

Atlantic Aerospace Electronics Corporation, Greenbelt, Maryland

RUTH M.DAVIS,

Pymatuning Group, Inc., Alexandria, Virginia

ELIEZER G.GAI,

Charles Stark Draper Laboratory, Inc., Cambridge, Massachusetts

GEORGE J.GLEGHORN, Consultant,

Rancho Palos Verdes, California

DAROLD GRIFFIN,

Engineering and Management Executives, Inc., Alexandria, Virginia

ROBERT W.LUCKY,

Telcordia Technologies, Red Bank, New Jersey

MILTON A.MARGOLIS,

Logistics Management Institute, McLean, Virginia

MALCOLM R.O’NEILL,

Lockheed Martin Corporation, Bethesda, Maryland

ALBERT A.SCIARRETTA,

CNS Technologies, Inc., Springfield, Virginia

National Research Council Staff

BRUCE A.BRAUN, Director,

Department of Military Science and Technology

JAMES C.GARCIA, Study Director

ALAN INOUYE, Program Officer,

Computer Science and Telecommunications Board

JAMES MYSKA, Research Associate

Liaisons

Board on Army Science and Technology

ROBERT HEASTON, Consultant,

Naperville, Illinois

Air Force Science and Technology Board

ROBERT LOEWY,

Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta

Suggested Citation:"Front Matter." National Research Council. 2001. Review of the U.S. Department of Defense Air, Space, and Supporting Information Systems Science and Technology Program. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/10179.
×

Preface

Since the mid-1940s, when Vannevar Bush and Theodore von Karman wrote Science, the Endless Frontier and Toward New Horizons, respectively, there has been a consensus that strong Department of Defense support of science and technology (S&T) is important to the security of the United States. During the Cold War, as it faced technologically capable adversaries whose forces potentially outnumbered U.S. forces, the United States relied on a strong defense S&T program to support the development of technologically superior weapons and systems that would enable it to prevail in the event of conflict. Since the end of the Cold War, the United States has relied on its technological superiority to maintain a military advantage while at the same time reducing the size of its forces. Over the past half-century, creating and maintaining a technologically superior military capability have become fundamental to U.S. national security strategy, and investment in S&T has become a basic component of the defense budget.

In late 1998, Congress asked the Secretary of Defense to conduct a study, in cooperation with the National Research Council (NRC), on the S&T base of the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD). Congress was particularly concerned about areas of the S&T program related to air systems, space systems, and supporting information systems. Its concern was based on the Air Force’s reduction of its S&T program from the largest of the three military service programs to the smallest. Congress also wanted to ensure that the Air Force maintained an appropriately sized S&T workforce. In late 1999, the Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for Science and Technology asked the NRC to conduct a study to explore these issues.

The committee thanks the congressional staff members, the Deputy Under Secretary of Defense, her staff, and representatives of the military services and defense research agencies who met with the committee and provided their support for its effort. The committee is also grateful to Robert Heaston, the committee liaison from the NRC Board on Army Science and Technology, who contributed greatly to the study and report. Finally, the committee thanks the NRC staff for its assistance in conducting the study and preparing this report.

Eugene E. Covert, Chair

Committee on Review of the U.S. Department of Defense Air and Space Systems Science and Technology Program

Suggested Citation:"Front Matter." National Research Council. 2001. Review of the U.S. Department of Defense Air, Space, and Supporting Information Systems Science and Technology Program. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/10179.
×

Acknowledgment of Reviewers

This report has been reviewed by individuals chosen for their diverse perspectives and technical expertise, in accordance with procedures approved by the National Research Council’s Report Review Committee. The purpose of this independent review is to provide candid and critical comments that will assist the authors and the NRC in making the published report as sound as possible and to ensure that the report meets institutional standards for objectivity, evidence, and responsiveness to the study charge. The contents of the review comments and draft manuscript remain confidential to protect the integrity of the deliberative process. We wish to thank the following individuals for their participation in the review of this report:

Curt Carlson, SRI International, Menlo Park, California

Edward M.Greitzer, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge

Norman Hackerman, Robert A.Welch Foundation, Houston, Texas

John McElroy, University of Texas, Arlington

John D.Warner, Boeing Company, Seattle, Washington

Leo Young, Consultant, Baltimore, Maryland

Although the reviewers listed above have provided many constructive comments and suggestions, they were not asked to endorse the conclusions or recommendations nor did they see the final draft of the report before its release. The review of this report was overseen by Alexander Flax, National Academy of Engineering, and Gilbert F.Decker, Walt Disney Imagineering Research and Development, Inc. Appointed by the National Research Council, they were responsible for making certain that an independent examination of this report was carried out in accordance with institutional procedures and that all review comments were carefully considered. Responsibility for the final content of this report rests entirely with the authoring committee and the institution.

Suggested Citation:"Front Matter." National Research Council. 2001. Review of the U.S. Department of Defense Air, Space, and Supporting Information Systems Science and Technology Program. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/10179.
×
Page viii Cite
Suggested Citation:"Front Matter." National Research Council. 2001. Review of the U.S. Department of Defense Air, Space, and Supporting Information Systems Science and Technology Program. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/10179.
×

3

 

AIR AND SPACE SYSTEMS

 

21

   

Air Systems,

 

21

   

Scope of Air Force Air Systems S&T,

 

21

   

Level of Funding,

 

22

   

Space Systems,

 

22

   

Emphasis on Strategic Value of Space,

 

22

   

Transfer of Funds,

 

24

   

Quality in Air and Space Systems S&T,

 

24

   

Quality of Research,

 

24

   

Relationship to Industry and Academia,

 

25

   

Peer Review,

 

25

   

Conclusions,

 

25

   

Recommendations,

 

25

   

References,

 

26

4

 

INFORMATION SYSTEMS

 

27

   

Overview,

 

27

   

Definitions,

 

28

   

Trends and Future Visions,

 

29

   

Current and Planned Program,

 

30

   

Impact of Commercial Technologies,

 

31

   

Current DoD Efforts,

 

32

   

Basic Research,

 

32

   

Applied Research and Technology Development,

 

33

   

The Need for Investment Priority,

 

33

   

Adequacy of Funding,

 

34

   

Basic Research (6.1) Funding,

 

34

   

Applied Research (6.2) and Technology Development (6.3) Funding,

 

35

   

High-Level Advocacy,

 

35

   

Conclusions,

 

36

   

Funding Incommensurate with Vision,

 

36

   

Need for Joint-Agency Development,

 

36

   

Taking Advantage of Commercial IST,

 

36

   

Dependence on DARPA,

 

36

   

Need for IST Advocate,

 

36

   

Recommendations,

 

36

   

IST Budget,

 

36

   

DoD Joint Vision,

 

36

   

Commercial Leveraging,

 

36

   

Investment Strategy,

 

37

   

IST Advocate,

 

37

   

References,

 

37

5

 

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY WORKFORCE

 

38

   

Declining Number of DoD S&T Personnel,

 

38

   

Declining Air Force Military S&T Personnel,

 

39

   

Results of Two Recent Reports,

 

41

   

Section 246,

 

42

Suggested Citation:"Front Matter." National Research Council. 2001. Review of the U.S. Department of Defense Air, Space, and Supporting Information Systems Science and Technology Program. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/10179.
×
This page in the original is blank.
Suggested Citation:"Front Matter." National Research Council. 2001. Review of the U.S. Department of Defense Air, Space, and Supporting Information Systems Science and Technology Program. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/10179.
×

Tables, Figures, and Boxes

TABLES

2–1

 

DoD S&T Funding, Total Obligational Authority, FY89 to FY01,

 

12

2–2

 

DoD S&T Funding, Total Obligational Authority, FY89 to FY01,

 

13

2–3

 

DoD Funding by Major Budget Category, FY89 to FY01,

 

14

2–4

 

Air Force Funding by Major Budget Category, FY89 to FY01,

 

15

2–5

 

Percentage Changes in Funding for DoD Budget Categories,

 

16

2–6

 

Percentage Changes in Funding for Air Force Budget Categories,

 

16

2–7

 

Percentage Changes in Funding for DoD S&T Categories,

 

17

FIGURES

2–1

 

Percentage change in total DoD budget and service S&T funding since 1989,

 

10

2–2

 

Service investments in S&T (6.1, 6.2, and 6.3),

 

11

3–1

 

DARPA air and space systems S&T funding,

 

23

3–2

 

DoD total S&T funding and space S&T funding as a percentage of DoD total obligational authority (TOA),

 

24

4–1

 

Decline in Air Force Research Laboratory Information Systems Directorate S&T budget, FY96 to FY00, compared with President’s budget (PB) request,

 

28

4–2

 

Notional S-curve depicting shrinking military warfighting advantage as technology matures and commercial development catches up to DoD development,

 

32

4–3

 

Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) briefing chart contrasting DARPA’s approach to R&D with its view of the approach taken by the services,

 

33

4–4

 

Service funding for information systems technology-related basic research, FY95 to FY01,

 

34

4–5

 

FY00 budget for Air Force Research Laboratory Information Systems Directorate (AFRL/IF),

 

35

5–1

 

Number (in thousands) of service in-house RDT&E personnel, FY90 to FY98,

 

39

5–2

 

Percentage change in total Department of Defense, Air Force, and Air Force Research Laboratory personnel from FY96 to FY00,

 

40

5–3

 

Cash compensation for Department of Defense RDT&E personnel versus industry RDT&E personnel as of 1998,

 

40

D-1

 

RDT&E budget categories,

 

59

Suggested Citation:"Front Matter." National Research Council. 2001. Review of the U.S. Department of Defense Air, Space, and Supporting Information Systems Science and Technology Program. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/10179.
×

BOXES

4–1

 

Definitions of Technology Areas,

 

29

4–2

 

Key Requirements Driving Future Information Systems S&T,

 

30

D-1

 

Summary of von Karman’s Recommendations,

 

55

D-2

 

Current S&T Budget Activities,

 

56

D-3

 

Rationale for 1971 Prototype Initiative,

 

57

D-4

 

1990 DoD Critical Technologies,

 

57

D-5

 

Current TARA Technology Areas,

 

58

D-6

 

Transitioning Technology,

 

60

D-7

 

Selected Results of 1988 OTA Study,

 

60

D-8

 

Funding Level for S&T,

 

61

Page xiii Cite
Suggested Citation:"Front Matter." National Research Council. 2001. Review of the U.S. Department of Defense Air, Space, and Supporting Information Systems Science and Technology Program. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/10179.
×

Acronyms


ACTD

advanced concept technology demonstration

AFA

Air Force Association

AFIT

Air Force Institute of Technology

AFMC

Air Force Materiel Command

AFRL

Air Force Research Laboratory

AFRL/IF

Air Force Research Laboratory/Information Directorate

ATTD

advanced technology transition demonstration


BMDO

Ballistic Missile Defense Organization


C4ISR

command, control, communications, computers, intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance


DARPA

Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency

DoD

U.S. Department of Defense

DUSD (S&T)

Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for Science and Technology


FY

fiscal year


GOCA

government-owned, collaborator-assisted

GOCO

government-owned, contractor-operated

GPS

Global Positioning System


IPA

Intergovernmental Personnel Act

ISR

intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance

IST

information systems technology


MS&C

modeling, simulation, and collaboration


NASA

National Aeronautics and Space Administration

NRC

National Research Council


O&M

operations and maintenance

ORD

operational requirements document

OSD

Office of the Secretary of Defense


RDT&E

research, development, test, and evaluation

RIF

reduction in force

Suggested Citation:"Front Matter." National Research Council. 2001. Review of the U.S. Department of Defense Air, Space, and Supporting Information Systems Science and Technology Program. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/10179.
×

S&E

science and engineering

S&T

science and technology


TARA

technology area review and assessment

TCT

time-critical target

TEO

technology executive officer

TOA

total obligational authority


UAV

unmanned air vehicle

UCAV

unmanned combat air vehicle

Suggested Citation:"Front Matter." National Research Council. 2001. Review of the U.S. Department of Defense Air, Space, and Supporting Information Systems Science and Technology Program. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/10179.
×
Page R1
Suggested Citation:"Front Matter." National Research Council. 2001. Review of the U.S. Department of Defense Air, Space, and Supporting Information Systems Science and Technology Program. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/10179.
×
Page R2
Suggested Citation:"Front Matter." National Research Council. 2001. Review of the U.S. Department of Defense Air, Space, and Supporting Information Systems Science and Technology Program. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/10179.
×
Page R3
Suggested Citation:"Front Matter." National Research Council. 2001. Review of the U.S. Department of Defense Air, Space, and Supporting Information Systems Science and Technology Program. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/10179.
×
Page R4
Suggested Citation:"Front Matter." National Research Council. 2001. Review of the U.S. Department of Defense Air, Space, and Supporting Information Systems Science and Technology Program. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/10179.
×
Page R5
Suggested Citation:"Front Matter." National Research Council. 2001. Review of the U.S. Department of Defense Air, Space, and Supporting Information Systems Science and Technology Program. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/10179.
×
Page R6
Suggested Citation:"Front Matter." National Research Council. 2001. Review of the U.S. Department of Defense Air, Space, and Supporting Information Systems Science and Technology Program. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/10179.
×
Page R7
Page viii Cite
Suggested Citation:"Front Matter." National Research Council. 2001. Review of the U.S. Department of Defense Air, Space, and Supporting Information Systems Science and Technology Program. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/10179.
×
Page R8
Suggested Citation:"Front Matter." National Research Council. 2001. Review of the U.S. Department of Defense Air, Space, and Supporting Information Systems Science and Technology Program. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/10179.
×
Page R9
Suggested Citation:"Front Matter." National Research Council. 2001. Review of the U.S. Department of Defense Air, Space, and Supporting Information Systems Science and Technology Program. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/10179.
×
Page R10
Suggested Citation:"Front Matter." National Research Council. 2001. Review of the U.S. Department of Defense Air, Space, and Supporting Information Systems Science and Technology Program. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/10179.
×
Page R11
Suggested Citation:"Front Matter." National Research Council. 2001. Review of the U.S. Department of Defense Air, Space, and Supporting Information Systems Science and Technology Program. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/10179.
×
Page R12
Page xiii Cite
Suggested Citation:"Front Matter." National Research Council. 2001. Review of the U.S. Department of Defense Air, Space, and Supporting Information Systems Science and Technology Program. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/10179.
×
Page R13
Suggested Citation:"Front Matter." National Research Council. 2001. Review of the U.S. Department of Defense Air, Space, and Supporting Information Systems Science and Technology Program. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/10179.
×
Page R14
Next: Executive Summary »
Review of the U.S. Department of Defense Air, Space, and Supporting Information Systems Science and Technology Program Get This Book
×
Buy Paperback | $47.00 Buy Ebook | $37.99
MyNAP members save 10% online.
Login or Register to save!
Download Free PDF

Since the mid-1940s, when Vannevar Bush and Theodore von Karman wrote Science, the Endless Frontier and Toward New Horizons, respectively, there has been a consensus that strong Department of Defense support of science and technology (S&T) is important to the security of the United States. During the Cold War, as it faced technologically capable adversaries whose forces potentially outnumbered U.S. forces, the United States relied on a strong defense S&T program to support the development of technologically superior weapons and systems that would enable it to prevail in the event of conflict. Since the end of the Cold War, the United States has relied on its technological superiority to maintain a military advantage while at the same time reducing the size of its forces. Over the past half-century, creating and maintaining a technologically superior military capability have become fundamental to U.S. national security strategy, and investment in S&T has become a basic component of the defense budget.

In late 1998, Congress asked the Secretary of Defense to conduct a study, in cooperation with the National Research Council (NRC), on the S&T base of the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD). Congress was particularly concerned about areas of the S&T program related to air systems, space systems, and supporting information systems. Its concern was based on the Air Force's reduction of its S&T program from the largest of the three military service programs to the smallest. Congress also wanted to ensure that the Air Force maintained an appropriately sized S&T workforce. In late 1999, the Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for Science and Technology asked the NRC to conduct a study to explore these issues.

  1. ×

    Welcome to OpenBook!

    You're looking at OpenBook, NAP.edu's online reading room since 1999. Based on feedback from you, our users, we've made some improvements that make it easier than ever to read thousands of publications on our website.

    Do you want to take a quick tour of the OpenBook's features?

    No Thanks Take a Tour »
  2. ×

    Show this book's table of contents, where you can jump to any chapter by name.

    « Back Next »
  3. ×

    ...or use these buttons to go back to the previous chapter or skip to the next one.

    « Back Next »
  4. ×

    Jump up to the previous page or down to the next one. Also, you can type in a page number and press Enter to go directly to that page in the book.

    « Back Next »
  5. ×

    Switch between the Original Pages, where you can read the report as it appeared in print, and Text Pages for the web version, where you can highlight and search the text.

    « Back Next »
  6. ×

    To search the entire text of this book, type in your search term here and press Enter.

    « Back Next »
  7. ×

    Share a link to this book page on your preferred social network or via email.

    « Back Next »
  8. ×

    View our suggested citation for this chapter.

    « Back Next »
  9. ×

    Ready to take your reading offline? Click here to buy this book in print or download it as a free PDF, if available.

    « Back Next »
Stay Connected!