This research effort focused on the program management issues of the U.S. Marine Corps' Advanced Amphibious Assault Vehicle (AAAV) Program. The research answered the primary question of what were the critical program management decisions during the early phases of the program and how would an analysis of these decisions affect the future of the AAAV program. Interviews were conducted with key personnel from the AAAV office and General Dynamics Land Systems. Additionally, program documents and other relevant literature were reviewed. The key findings of the research effort concluded that reducing technical risk early in program is critical; Program Managers (PMs) must influence system design as early as possible; physical collocation of Government and contractor personnel facilitates the implementation of integrated Product and Process Development (lPPD) and Integrated Product Teams (lPTs); the use of IPPD and IPTs has helped the AAAV program but personnel need to be trained before implementation; adopting an evolutionary acquisition strategy will help prevent component obsolescence prior to fielding; and PMs should use special contracting provisions to incentivize contractors to reduce total ownership costs.
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