Maximizing the U.S. Army’s Future Contribution to Global Security Using the Capability Portfolio Analysis Tool (CPAT)

Journal Article · Mon Feb 01 00:00:00 EST 2016 · Interfaces

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1287/inte.2015.0824· OSTI ID:1263511

Davis, Scott J. ^[1]; Edwards, Shatiel B. ^[1]; Teper, Gerald E. ^[1]; Bassett, David G. ^[1]; McCarthy, Michael J. ^[1]; Johnson, Scott C. ^[1]; Lawton, Craig R. ^[2]; Hoffman, Matthew J. ^[2]; Shelton, Liliana ^[2]; Henry, Stephen M. ^[2]; Melander, Darryl J. ^[2]; Muldoon, Frank M. ^[2]; Alford, Brian D. ^[3]; Rice, Roy E. ^[4]

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1. United States Army, Warren, MI (United States)
2. Sandia National Lab. (SNL-NM), Albuquerque, NM (United States)
3. Booz Allen Hamilton, Huntsville, AL (United States)
4. Teledyne Brown Engineering, Huntsville, AL (United States)

We report that recent budget reductions have posed tremendous challenges to the U.S. Army in managing its portfolio of ground combat systems (tanks and other fighting vehicles), thus placing many important programs at risk. To address these challenges, the Army and a supporting team developed and applied the Capability Portfolio Analysis Tool (CPAT) to optimally invest in ground combat modernization over the next 25–35 years. CPAT provides the Army with the analytical rigor needed to help senior Army decision makers allocate scarce modernization dollars to protect soldiers and maintain capability overmatch. CPAT delivers unparalleled insight into multiple-decade modernization planning using a novel multiphase mixed-integer linear programming technique and illustrates a cultural shift toward analytics in the Army’s acquisition thinking and processes. CPAT analysis helped shape decisions to continue modernization of the $10 billion Stryker family of vehicles (originally slated for cancellation) and to strategically reallocate over $20 billion to existing modernization programs by not pursuing the Ground Combat Vehicle program as originally envisioned. Ultimately, more than 40 studies have been completed using CPAT, applying operations research methods to optimally prioritize billions of taxpayer dollars and allowing Army acquisition executives to base investment decisions on analytically rigorous evaluations of portfolio trade-offs.

• Research Organization: Sandia National Lab. (SNL-NM), Albuquerque, NM (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA)
• Grant/Contract Number: AC04-94AL85000
• OSTI ID: 1263511
• Report Number(s): SAND2016-6515J; 644834
• Journal Information: Interfaces, Vol. 46, Issue 1; ISSN 0092-2102
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

45 MILITARY TECHNOLOGY, WEAPONRY, AND NATIONAL DEFENSE