Defense News:
WASHINGTON — A decision to place the U.S. Missile Defense Agency under the Pentagon’s new research branch could pay dividends for an agency that has seen its research and development capabilities shrink in recent years.
The Defense Department is in the process of splitting the undersecretary of defense for acquisition, technology and logistics, or AT&L, into two new organizations: the undersecretary of research and engineering, or USDR&E; and the undersecretary for acquisition and sustainment, or USDA&S.
Under a draft plan rolled out Aug. 1, the MDA would report directly to the USDR&E, the organization tasked with developing and fielding next-generation capabilities needed to support the Pentagon’s mission, rather than USDA&S, the organization that will handle more oversight of ongoing programs.
