Risks are inherent in the development and acquisition of new weapon systems whose performance requirements surpass those of currently fielded systems. If not anticipated and managed "up front and early" in tne acquisition cycle, these risks can have profound effects on a program's cost and schedule and, ultimately, on the combat effectiveness of the Armed Forces. Current Office of Management and Budget (0MB) and Department of Defense (DoD) acquisition policy requires the Program Manager (PM) to develop and tailor an acquisition strategy for each new program. The strategy must include methods for assessing and managing contractor and Government risks. For the U.S. Marine Corps' Advanced Amphibious Assault Vehicle (AAAV) acquisition program, development of a risk management methodology is the responsibility of the Direct Reporting Program Manager (DRPM/AAAV). Accordingly, this thesis investigates the risk management methodology employed within the AAAV program, illustrates how this methodology converges with and diverges from risk management methodology prescribed by and/or suggested by the "Body of Knowledge" (B OK) relating to risk management, and analyzes the applicability of the "Spiral Model". This thesis concludes by recommending areas where the BOK and the DRPM's methodology can be enhanced and suggests areas warranting further research.
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