§4145 Program for the Enhancement of the Research, Development, Test, and Evaluation Centers of the Department of Defense

Summary

The Secretary of Defense and the service secretaries must run a program to try out better ways to develop technology and manage certain research and test centers. The program covers science and technology reinvention laboratories, test and evaluation centers that are part of the Major Range and Test Facility Base (per DoD Directive 3200.11), the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), the Defense Innovation Unit, and the Strategic Capabilities Office. Each military department has a named official in charge: the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Acquisition, Technology, and Logistics for the Army; the Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Research, Development, and Acquisition for the Navy and Marine Corps; the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Acquisition for the Air Force and Space Force; and the Deputy Secretary of Defense for DARPA, the Defense Innovation Unit, the Strategic Capabilities Office, and other matters not covered above. Heads of the eligible centers must send the responsible official proposals and then try out new management, operations, rapid project delivery, prototyping, and partnership methods. These ideas should boost value and efficiency in research and development, improve support activities (like facility work, business operations, personnel rules, and outreach), and speed delivery of capabilities to warfighters. A proposed method must be put into effect unless the responsible official rejects it in writing within 60 days of getting the proposal. The head of a center may set aside rules, policies, or procedures that block a proposed method, unless a federal statute or common law forbids the change.