Combatant Commands (CCMDs) operate in fast-paced, high-stakes environments where the slow and rigid defense acquisition system often fails to meet urgent needs. Granting CCMDs acquisition authority would enable faster procurement of software-intensive systems and other capabilities essential for planning, battlespace awareness, command and control, cyber security, logistics, and advanced decision-making.
Providing Acquisition Authority to Combatant Commands in the DoD
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Options for implementing this authority include full delegation, which maximizes flexibility but introduces risks such as redundancy and interoperability issues; partial delegation, which limits authority to specific mission-critical needs; and a hybrid model, which integrates CCMDs more closely with existing acquisition organizations to streamline processes while maintaining oversight and regulatory compliance.
Key challenges to this approach include legal and policy constraints, workforce development, financial accountability, and ensuring interoperability across the joint force. Lessons from U.S. Special Operations Command (SOCOM), the Joint Rapid Acquisition Cell (JRAC), and other precedents highlight the importance of balancing responsiveness with coordination to meet operational needs effectively.
May 7-8, 2025
Breaking Barriers in Defense Acquisition
A summit for defense capabilities and tech thought leaders and forward-thinking acquisition experts.