The Acquisition Cost-Estimating Workforce: Census and Characteristics (Technical Report)

To help fulfill a congressional mandate that cost estimates for major defense acquisition programs be performed by properly qualified members of the armed forces or full-time employees of the Department of Defense, RAND researchers conducted a census of the cost-estimating staff in the Air Force's four product centers and three logistics centers. They also held focus groups with a sample of cost estimators. This report presents the results.