I thought we had management talent in the Pentagon

It surely doesn't look that way in this summary of some GAO reports about the business capabilities of DOD. Basically, the report says that DOD does not know what it's doing in many areas and relies on inadequate procedures and hope to solve some long running problems. Here are some of the programs that have cost us money and time.

• Logistics Modernization Program - the system could not properly recognize revenue or bill customers. General ledger balances were not converted properly when the system went live. Excess items were ordered and shipped. Prices could not be set properly.
• Navy Enterprise Resource Planning - They wasted $1 billion on four pilot programs that basically duplicated each other.
• Defense Travel System - System testing was inadequate to ensure that everything worked. The legacy system is still being used in those places where FTS has been installed.
• Naval Tactical Command Support System - The Navy still has not justified the $1.1 billion investment nor is it even trying to measure the return on some of the system components.
• TC-AIMS II - The Army has not economically justified its investment in this system. The system is intended to be used by all branches of the military; the Air Force and Marine Corps say they will not use it.

In 2001 DOD started a program to enter the 21st century. After spending four years and $318,000,000, it decided to begin again with a new team in 2005. Will they be any more successful with this one?