The Dept. of Defense (DoD) spends billions of dollars to sustain key business operations intended to support the warfighter. DoD is at high risk because of vulnerabilities to fraud, waste, abuse, and mismanagement and also should have a broad-based transformation needed to achieve greater efficiency, effectiveness, and sustainability. The author provide his views on: (1) actions needed to achieve measurable outcomes in DoD's high-risk areas; and (2) DoD's progress in strengthening its mgmt. approach for business transformation, including establishing the Chief Mgmt. Officer position. Includes info. regarding the high-risk area related to contract mgmt. at the Dept. of Energy's National Nuclear Security Admin. Illustrations.

Virtually all Department of Defense (DoD) weapon systems and equipment rely on power sources, such as batteries. This report determined: (1) DoD's approximate investment in power sources; (2) the extent to which DoD coordinates its power source investments; and (3) the extent to which DoD's policies facilitate the use of standard power sources. To address these objectives, the report obtained and analyzed DoD investment data, met with DoD officials and industry representatives, and attended DoD conferences aimed at facilitating power source coordination. Charts and tables. This is a print on demand edition of an important, hard-to-find report.

Major defense acquisition programs (MDAP) are used to acquire, modernize, or extend the service life of DoD¿s most expensive assets, primarily military equipment. A new law required this review of weaknesses in DoD's operations that affect the reliability of financial information for assets acquired through MDAP. To do so, this report identified and reviewed previously reported weaknesses that impair DoD's ability to provide reliable cost information for military equipment acquired through MDAPs, and determined what actions DoD has taken to address them. Includes recommendations. Charts and tables.

Initial priorities for U.S. participation in the International Decade for Natural Disaster Reduction, declared by the United Nations, are contained in this volume. It focuses on seven issues: hazard and risk assessment; awareness and education; mitigation; preparedness for emergency response; recovery and reconstruction; prediction and warning; learning from disasters; and U.S. participation internationally. The committee presents its philosophy of calls for broad public and private participation to reduce the toll of disasters.