Developmental Testing

InsideDefense.com reported on Friday that the Pentagon remains far short of its goal of assigning senior leaders to oversee developmental testing for all big-ticket weapons and information-technology programs, according to a new report to Congress:

Key leadership positions (KLPs) for testing are assigned to "less than 50 percent" of major defense acquisition programs and major automated information systems, states the March report signed by acting Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Developmental Test and Evaluation Steven Hutchinson.

Three years ago, Pentagon acquisition chief Frank Kendall dubbed numerous acquisition posts -- including the testing chiefs for all major weapons and information-technology programs -- "key leadership positions" to be filled by military officials of a certain rank.

DOD has made progress in this effort since last year, when the department told lawmakers that test-related KLPs had been assigned for less than 30 percent of major programs, the report states. Notably, the Navy increased the number of test-related KLPs assigned from 28 to 39 during fiscal year 2012, the assessment adds.