Improving AFOTEC's Contribution to the Acquisition Process: Moving Integrated Developmental and Operational Test to the Next Level

摘要

The Air Force Operational Test and Evaluation Center (AFOTEC) has aggressively moved forward over the last 12 months, institutionalizing early influence and is now influencing concepts, projects, and programs earlier than ever before. In addition, AFOTEC's Space Test Initiative (STI) has taken hold in space acquisition and is proving to better support the acquisition and operational decision makers for space systems. The STI is now the prescribed method for space operational test and evaluation (OT&E) and has transformed space test policy through collaboration between AFOTEC and the space community. Most recently, we are working to address the processes to successfully execute integrated developmental and operational testing (IDT/OT) across all programs to take advantage of available efficiencies by sharing operationally relevant data and 'buying down' dedicated OT&E time and asset costs when able. Finally, we have launched a new effort aimed at improving how we conduct OT&E for heavily software dependent capabilities. We have called our newest effort the Cyberspace Initiative.