DOD Has a Variety of Technology Transition Programs That Support Military Users

We identified 20 technology transition programs, managed by OSD and  the military departments, that provide structured mechanisms and funding  to facilitate technology transition. However, all  are consistent in providing opportunities to transition technologies from  the S&T community to a military user, such as an acquisition program or  the warfighter in the field. In addition, most programs target fairly mature technologies,  which are suitable for final stages of development and demonstration. Collectively, the programs we reviewed use a mix of S&T and other  research, development, test, and evaluation funding—about $7.9 billion  obligated from fiscal years 2010 through 2012—to facilitate technology  transition. Technology Transition Programs Provide Technologies to Military Users, But Tracking of Project Outcomes and Benefits after Transition Is Limited

Most programs that we assessed track whether their projects were  completed and successfully transitioned to intended users. On average,  programs reported a historical transition rate of over 70 percent for their  technology transition projects. However, about one-quarter of the projects transitioned to  other organizations, such as test and evaluation centers and industry, for  further development. For the most part, the programs do not track their  projects beyond transition, which limits their ability to know and report  final outcomes for transitioned technologies and any associated benefits  DOD achieved from those technologies. Figure 4 shows the  distribution of transitions reported by the transition programs we assessed  for fiscal years 2010-2012 that fall into one of three categories—transition  to an acquisition program, transition directly to the field for use by the  warfighter, and transitions to “other” users such as S&T organizations,  test and evaluation centers, or industry. The vast majority of the projects resulted  in technologies transitioning to acquisition programs or directly to the  warfighter in the field. Few Programs Track Project Outcomes and Benefits after Transition

As GAO has reported in the past, tracking technology transitions and the  impact of those transitions, such as cost savings or deployment of the  technology in a product, provides key feedback that can inform the  management of programs. Programs Facilitate Transition Through Sound Project Selection and Management Practices

As GAO has reported in the past, technology transition programs need to  establish disciplined selection and management processes as well as  tools to ensure that new technologies can be effectively transitioned to a  military user. Programs must have processes in place that support the  selection of projects that have realistic schedule and cost expectations,  as well as sufficiently mature technologies. Once selected, projects  require effective management to ensure technology risks are minimized,  costs and schedules are maintained, and transition commitments are  confirmed. Formal agreements and other  project assessment measures also are important to ensure projects stay  on track and stakeholders sustain their commitments to transition. In  conducting this review, we found that OSD and military department  technology transition programs make use of these practices to varying  degrees. There may be  opportunities for more widespread use of these tools among the  programs we reviewed, which could help strengthen technology transition  success. Recommendations for Executive Action

To improve visibility and management of the department’s efforts to  transition technologies to support the needs of the warfighter, we  recommend that the Secretary of Defense take the following two actions:
Require that all technology transition programs track and measure  project outcomes, to include not only whether technologies  transitioned to an intended user but also the longer-term impact of  whether the technologies benefitted acquisition programs or military  users in the field. Assess transition programs to identify opportunities for more  widespread use of existing transition management tools, such as  technology transition agreements and technology commitment level  evaluation mechanisms. Key contributors to this report are listed in  appendix V.

Appendix I: Scope and Methodology

To identify what Department of Defense (DOD) programs exist that are  dedicated to facilitating technology transition from the science and  technology (S&T) community to a user, we reviewed DOD reports and  documents. 2. 3.
Why GAO Did This Study

DOD and Congress recognize that technology innovation sometimes moves too slowly from the lab to the field. Programs have been created in DOD to help facilitate the transition of new technologies. The conference report accompanying the fiscal year 2012 National Defense Authorization Act directed GAO to undertake a body of work that will provide a holistic assessment of DOD's S&T enterprise. This report reflects the results from GAO's first review, which focuses on technology transition. Generally, when technologies have been sufficiently matured in the S&T environment, the technologies are available to transition to a military user. GAO's specific objectives were to (1) determine what DOD programs are dedicated to facilitating technology transition, (2) assess the outcomes of these transition programs, and (3) identify practices among the programs that may facilitate technology transition. GAO conducted interviews with and collected information from each technology transition program to identify their selection, management, and assessment practices, as well as project outcomes.

What GAO Found

GAO identified 20 technology transition programs--managed by the Office of the Secretary of Defense (OSD) and the military departments--that provide structured mechanisms and funding to facilitate technology transition. All of the programs GAO reviewed are consistent in providing opportunities to transition technologies from the science and technology (S&T) environment to a user, such as a weapon system acquisition program or the warfighter in the field. To help speed the delivery of technologies to users, most transition programs target fairly mature technologies, which are suitable for final stages of development and demonstration. Collectively, the programs GAO reviewed obligated about $7.9 billion in Department of Defense (DOD) research, development, test, and evaluation funding for fiscal years 2010 through 2012 to support technology transition.
Most programs that GAO assessed track whether their projects were completed and successfully transitioned to intended users. On average, programs reported a historical transition rate of over 70 percent for projects. The vast majority of these projects resulted in technologies transitioning to acquisition programs or directly to the warfighter. However, about one-quarter of the projects transitioned to other organizations, such as test and evaluation centers, for further development. Prior GAO work found that tracking technology transitions and the impact of those transitions, such as cost savings or deployment of the technology in a product, provides key feedback that can inform the management of programs. For the most part, transition programs that GAO reviewed do not track projects beyond transition, which limits their ability to know and report final outcomes for transitioned technologies and the associated benefits realized from those technologies.
As GAO has reported in the past, effective selection and management processes as well as tools are needed to ensure that new technologies can be successfully transitioned to military users. GAO found that OSD's and the Military Departments' technology transition programs make use of these practices to varying degrees. Most programs have formal review processes to determine whether candidate projects have sufficiently mature technologies, are in demand by users, and have schedules and costs that fit within the programs' criteria. Once selected, projects require effective management to ensure risks are minimized and transition commitments are confirmed. Many program officials indicated that regular stakeholder communication during project execution is important to ensure projects stay on track and transition commitments are sustained. Moreover, many program officials identified the use of formal management tools, such as technology transition agreements, as key mechanisms to help hold stakeholders accountable and facilitate technology transition.

What GAO Recommends

GAO recommends that DOD require programs to track and measure project outcomes to document transition results and benefits from transition, as well as assess programs to identify opportunities for more widespread use of existing transition management tools. DOD generally concurred with these recommendations and stated that it will initiate actions to address potential opportunities for improvement identified in the report.