IGA-303: Defense Resource Allocation and Force Planning

Semester: Spring

Credit: 1.0

Faculty: John White

Schedule

Day Time Location
First Day 1/25
Meet Day M/W 10:10 AM - 11:30 AM L332
Review

Description

Examines how the United States makes defense resource-allocation decisions in the context of national security policy. Analyzes budget and performance-management issues in terms of specific, concrete choices. Teaches how policies are formulated and translated into forces and capabilities. Designed to prepare students who anticipate careers in U.S. national security agencies or in similar capacities (U.S. or non-U.S.) or are generally interested in issues concerning the public management of large, complex organizations. Topics include: defense goals and budgets; PPBS; performance-management practices; force size and mix, active versus reserve forces; mobility requirements; conventional versus nuclear forces; procurement management; manpower requirements; and interagency issues. Students will be required to develop realistic policy options and budget simulations and to produce professional products as assignments, such as concise memos, briefings, budget proposals, and testimony.