ABSTRACT
This chapter examines the evolution of US Air Force launch vehicles from the 1990s to present. Two consistent themes in the Department of Defense's acquisition reform have been: streamlining the process by reducing the burden caused by regulations and oversight procedures and adopting commercial practices and products. The president instructed David Packard, co-founder of Hewlett Packard and former secretary of defense, to head a blue-ribbon committee and examine the problems with defense acquisition and procurement. Many Air Force acquisition professionals have been frustrated for years watching their efforts go through years of reviews and processes that add nothing to the final outcome. The chapter also examines several avenues created to best leverage the use of Other Transactions (OTs) with rising technologies. To suggest, as some have, that the OT tool will require increased expertise is flawed. The OT authority has proven instrumental in bringing the Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle to maturity, as well as engaging commercial technology to improve it.
