The Air Force's Expeditionary Combat Support System (ECSS): A Cautionary Tale on the Need for Business Process Reengineering and Complying with Acquisition Best Practices

Publication

The Air Force's Expeditionary Combat Support System (ECSS): A Cautionary Tale on the Need for Business Process Reengineering and Complying with Acquisition Best Practices

Abstract

The Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations of the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs found that the Air Force failed in its procurement of the Expeditionary Combat Support System (ECSS) between 2004 and 2012 because it lacked objective and organization needed to implement changes to its internal business processes vital to integrating ECSS into the organization. During this time, the Air Force violated multiple guidelines and best practices for information technology acquisition. This report hopes to prevent the Air Force and other military departments and defense agencies from repeating the costly mistakes that occurred during the ECSS procurement.