Interactions of Navy program managers with Congressional committees and their staffs

Abstract

This thesis explores the interactions between Navy Program Managers and the United States Congress. It describes the amount and type of interactions, end the formal organization in the Navy to deal with them. Initial research was based on telephone and written surveys. This was followed by extensive personal interviews with Congressional staff members, Congressmen, DOD civilians, Congressional liaison personnel, and Navy Program Managers. Congressional expectations or norms for their interactions with Program Managers are discussed-, as well as Congressional views of what actually occurs. The effects of the discrepancies between Congressional expectations and Congressional images of how Program Managers act are described. Finally, some recommendations are made to help improve Navy Program Manager-Congressional interactions.