Lt. Gen. Duke Z. Richardson, Lt. Gen. John F. Thompson, and Trae’ Stephens addressed “Acquisition Policies and Practices: Defense Start-Ups and Acquisition with Investors” with retired Maj. Gen. Doug Raaberg, Air Force Association executive vice president. The panel discussion was part of AFA’s virtual Air, Space & Cyber Conference.
The emphasis on speed in the Pentagon’s newly unveiled slate of acquisition reforms may come with increased near-term cost increases, analysts say. But according to U.S. defense officials, the new weapons-buying construct provides the military with enough flexibility to prevent runaway budget overruns in major programs.

