The Future of Defense Management Reform Symposium

Every recent Secretary of Defense has sought to streamline and improve the management of the Department of Defense. Some reform efforts have been more successful than others, but the consensus is that the Pentagon remains trapped by outdated systems and a culture that make it almost impervious to streamlining and innovation. IDA hosted a symposium on defense management reform that focused on steps that could be taken to make the Department of Defense work better and cost less. This document includes presentations from the symposium including discussion about the future of defense acquisition reform, civilian personnel reform, and financial management reform.