Design Shortage

The Pentagon recently issued its annual industrial capabilities report to Congress, in which it warns:

The loss or reduction in design teams and specialized engineering skills is a particular Department concern that cuts across multiple defense sectors -- most notably the aircraft, missile, space, Command, Control, Communications, Computers (C4) and Information Communications Technology (ICT), and munitions and missiles sectors. The demand for new design and development is at a historic low with significant skill and experience loss expected due to an aging and retiring workforce and a shortage in qualified design engineers. The loss in design expertise may jeopardize U.S. technological edge and increase the execution risks for future DoD programs. Preserving and developing unique and highly-creative talent, skills, and technology are vital to the industrial base's ability to design and produce world-class products.

Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) education is essential toward ensuring the nation maintains a workforce capable of understanding and satisfying the technical and advanced design requirements of future defense systems. After a temporary rise during the internet boom of the 1990s, enrollments in university STEM programs have reverted to previous historical levels. There is growing concern within the Department that there may be an insufficient supply of qualified graduates to meet rising defense C4/ICT and other design-unique program requirements.

The Department is addressing STEM education issues with the National Science Foundation and the President's Networking and Information Technology Research and Development Program. DASD(MIBP) is also monitoring potential design team shortages through continued S2T2 assessments.

View the full report.

Check out our coverage of the report:

New DOD Assessment Pinpoints At-Risk Defense Industrial Base Sectors (DefenseAlert, Sept. 25)

An "aggressive" Pentagon analytical effort to identify critical and fragile niches in the defense industrial base has turned up several areas of concern for senior military acquisition officials, who have developed plans to intervene if necessary, according to a new government report.

DOD: Industrial Edge To 'Shift Against' U.S. Without 'Near-Term' 6th-Gen Fighter (DefenseAlert, Sept. 24)

Without "near-term" plans to launch a sixth-generation fighter aircraft program before 2030, the Defense Department estimates the U.S. aerospace industry could forfeit what is believed by the U.S. government to be a five-year technological advantage over foreign combat aircraft makers, according to a previously unreported Pentagon assessment.

Stay tuned for more.