Shaping the Navy's Acquisition Workforce

Abstract

The Navy's acquisition workforce is at a crossroads. Force reductions caused the current problems of numerous personnel nearing retirement eligibility, insufficient end-strength to meet the current contracting landscape, and an overreliance on contractors. In response to these challenges, Congress enacted legislation increasing the size of the workforce and emphasizing strategic human capital planning. The present study seeks to determine how effectively the Navy's human capital initiatives provide the appropriate end-strength to accomplish the acquisition mission. Researchers utilized the Inventory Projection Model created by RAND to determine the potential effects of selected economic and policy factors on future workforce end-strength. The model relies on a scenario-based approach to predict the impact of such factors by varying input rates for hiring and attrition. Study results suggest that certain economic or policy changes could have a significant impact on personnel recruitment or attrition behaviors. The Navy's current initiatives are determined to be effective. However, increased personnel attrition, either through economic improvement or policy shifts, could cause an end-strength shortfall. Expanded use of the model is recommended to assist in estimating the potential effects of various economic and policy factors on the future shape of the acquisition workforce.