**GAO-11-806**                      Published: Sep 19, 2011. Publicly Released: Sep 19, 2011.                  

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## Highlights

For the past 2 years, the Department of Defense (DOD) has been implementing the Weapon Systems Acquisition Reform Act (Reform Act) requirements for systems engineering and developmental testing. These activities are important to DOD's ability to control acquisition costs, which increased by $135 billion over the past 2 years for 98 major defense acquisition programs. GAO was asked to determine (1) DOD's progress in implementing the Reform Act's requirements and (2) whether there are challenges at the military service level that could affect their systems engineering and developmental testing activities. To do this, GAO analyzed implementation status documents, discussed developmental testing office concerns with current and former DOD officials, and analyzed military service workforce growth plans and test range funding data..

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## GAO Contacts

Michael J. Sullivan
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## Topics

Human Capital

Budget cutsContractor personnelDefense capabilitiesDefense economic analysisDefense procurementDevelopmental testingEmployeesEvaluation methodsLabor forceMilitary engineeringMilitary forcesMilitary research and developmentPerformance measuresProcurement planningRequirements definitionSystems analysisSystems evaluationSystems testingWeapons research and developmentWeapons systemsSystems development