QDR Independence

The congressionally mandated QDR Independent Panel -- headed by former defense secretary William Perry and former National Security Advisor Stephen Hadley -- will publish their final report next week, possibly as soon as Monday, according to a congressional source.

Their assignment set fort in the Fiscal Year 2010 National Defense Authorization Act is to:

• review the terms of reference issued by Defense Secretary Robert Gates, and any other materials providing the basis for, or substantial inputs to, the work of the Department of Defense on the 2009 QDR;
• conduct an assessment of the assumptions, strategy, findings, and risks in the report of the Secretary of Defense on the 2009 QDR, with particular attention paid to the risks described in that report;
• conduct an independent assessment of a variety of possible force structures for the armed forces, including the force structure identified in the report of the secretary of defense on the 2009 QDR; and
• review the resource requirements identified in the 2009 QDR and, to the extent practicable, make a general comparison of such resource requirements with the resource requirements to support the force structure.

The House Armed Services Committee will receive testimony from Perry and Hadley on July 29; the Senate Armed Services Committee will hear from the same witnesses on Aug. 3.

In April the co-chairs announced the panel would focus on five issues, including:

Force Structure and Personnel: The panel will examine in detail the force sizing construct used in the QDR, the resulting recommended force structure, and “conduct an assessment of a variety of possible force structures.” The panel will also "review the resource requirements” identified in the QDR, and "to the extent practicable, make a general comparison of such resource requirements with the resource requirements to support the forces” cited in the QDR. It will also examine the expected costs necessary to sustain a force structure and supporting end-strength – both in terms of active duty and reserve components - sufficient to perform the missions anticipated in the QDR. Additionally, accessions, career progression, healthcare, and retirement costs will all be critically evaluated in the context of how to manage the escalating costs of the All Volunteer Force, while still ensuring adequate defense resources for acquisitions and operations - all in the context of a decade or more of projected budget deficits.

Acquisition and Contracting: Central to the Department of Defense’s ability to perform its missions are issues related to reform of both acquisition and contracting systems. The panel will critically assess both contract negotiation mechanisms and the acquisition process. It will evaluate the department’s ability to effectively and efficiently acquire equipment and contract with suppliers, so as to provide in timely fashion the hardware, services, and support needed by our men and women in uniform who are deployed in harm’s way. It will also evaluate the adequacy of acquisition expertise in the contracting community, the manner with which the department upgrades its IT systems, the impact of rising energy costs, and the need to build the capabilities of international partners.

The panel members are: Richard Armitage; J.D. Crouch; Charles Curtis; Rudy deLeon; Joan Dempsey; Eric Edelman; Sherri Goodman; retired Adm. David Jeremiah; retired Gen. George Joulwan; Richard Kohn; John Lehman; Alice Maroni; John Nagl; retired Maj. Gen. Robert Scales; James Talent; retired Lt. Gen. Paul Van Riper; and retired Gen. Larry Welch.