New Navy Acquisition Deputy Appointed
U.S. "We are pleased to note that the Secretary of Defense has agreed with the position of the Committee on Armed Services that an officer in the grade of Vice Admiral would be a valuable addition to the staff of the senior Navy acquisition executive. The Committee has long felt that a senior officer serving as the Principle Deputy to the Assistant Secretary for Research, Development and Acquisition would be a valuable link between the uniformed service and the civilian acquisition professionals.
Congress Promotes Commercial Shipbuilding
The House Armed Services Seapower and Expeditionary Forces Subcommittee received testimony on the Federal Ship Loan Guarantee Program, also known as Title XI, which facilitates financing of commercial ship construction in U.S. shipyards. Cynthia L. Brown, President of the American Shipbuilding Association, testified on the importance of funding and improving the program to increase commercial ship construction in the U.S. Members of the subcommittee in attendance were Chairman Gene Taylor (D-MS), Ranking Member Roscoe Bartlett (R-MD), Representatives Madeleine Bordallo (D-Guam), Rick Larsen (D-WA), and Joe Sestak (D-PA). Chairman Gene Taylor stressed the importance of Title XI…
Navy Battling Shipbuilding Cost Overruns, Delays
According to Reuters, U.S. Navy shipbuilding has long been plagued by billions of dollars of cost overruns and lengthy, schedule delays, but acquisition chief Delores Etter says she sees encouraging signs of progress. But the former Naval Academy electrical engineering professor said both the Navy and U.S. shipbuilders have begun making changes that should lead to improvements. She said Navy officials were working with U.S. lawmakers to move toward greater funding stability for shipbuilding. Frustrated by chronic cost overruns and keen to maintain well-paying jobs in their home districts, lawmakers have in the past tweaked Navy budget plans, adding ships, delaying ships and blocking plans to have just one shipyard build a ship.
U.S. Navy Finds Budget Leeway To Begin LCS
The U.S. Navy’s push to fund shipbuilding through its research and development (R&D) budget has paid off. Because the rules that govern R&D spending are more lenient than those for ordinary procurement, the service was able to begin building a new Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) in October even though the 2006 defense authorization and appropriations bills have yet to pass Congress or be signed by the president. When the Navy signed a $223 million construction contract with General Dynamics on Oct. 14, congressional budget watchdogs and even some lawmakers wondered whether the service had overstepped its authority by agreeing to buy a ship before it had money in hand to do so. The Navy action appeared to violate federal funding laws that date as far back as 1861.
