The Strategic Direction For Army Science and Technology

This report summarizes an assessment of the Strategic Direction for Army Science and Technology (S&T), conducted by the Army Science Board (ASB) between October 2011 and July 2012. The study wassponsored by the Secretary of the Army, the Honorable John M. McHugh. The Terms of Reference(TOR) (Appendix B) for the study directed the ASB to "analyze the current Army Materiel Command(AMC)] Research, Development and Engineering Command (RDECOM) portfolio of S&T projects andobjectives" and to provide findings and recommendations on a number of strategic issues.The TOR focuses on two principal motivating factors: (1) S&T mission effectiveness; and (2) anticipatedDepartment of Defense (DOD) budget reductions. With respect to S&T mission effectiveness, the TORstates: "Research, Development, Test and Engineering (RDT&E) is vital to the Army's success. Ourstrategic vision is based upon a decisive technological superiority to any potential adversary. Recentstudies show that we are not achieving the goals that we have set for ourselves." Furthermore, "therehave been a number of recent studies that have formed the basis for the missions of RDECOM and havebeen critical of their accomplishments." With respect to anticipated DOD budget reductions, the TORstates: "The Secretary of Defense has suggested that the Services take at least a 10% cut to their scienceand technology spending as part of his efficiency initiatives."