The Packard Commission
Encyclopedia
The President's Blue Ribbon Commission on Defense Management also known as the Packard Commission was a federal government commission by President Ronald Reagan
, created by Executive Order 12526 to study several areas of management functionality within the Department of Defense of the United States
. It was chaired by David Packard
.
, which entailed major new expenditures on weapons procurement
. By the mid-1980s, this spending became a scandal when the Project On Government Oversight
reported that the Pentagon
had vastly overpaid for a wide variety of items, most notoriously paying $435 for a hammer
, $600 for a toilet seat
, and $7600 for a coffee pot.
In response to these scandals, President Reagan appointed a commission chaired by David Packard to study government procurement
undertaken by the United States Department of Defense
. The Commission consisted of Packard, Ernest C. Arbuckle
, Robert H. Barrow
, Nicholas F. Brady
, Louis W. Cabot, Frank Carlucci
, William P. Clark, Jr.
, Barber Conable
, Paul F. Gorman
, Carla Anderson Hills
, James L. Holloway III
, William Perry
, Charles J. Pilliod, Jr.
, Brent Scowcroft
, Herbert Stein
, and R. James Woolsey, Jr.
The President tasked the Commission with studying
The Commission made several recommendations: (1) that defense appropriations
should be passed by the United States Congress
in two-year budgets rather than annual appropriations bills; (2) the creation of a "procurement czar", to be known as the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and the creation of a clear hierarchy of acquisition executives and managers in each of the services.; (3) the theater commanders
should report directly to the United States Secretary of Defense
through the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff
; and (4) the powers of the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff should be strengthened.
Many of the recommendations by the commission were used when Congress
reformed the Joint Chiefs of Staff
system in 1986 with the Goldwater–Nichols Act.
Ronald Reagan
Ronald Wilson Reagan was the 40th President of the United States , the 33rd Governor of California and, prior to that, a radio, film and television actor....
, created by Executive Order 12526 to study several areas of management functionality within the Department of Defense of the United States
United States Department of Defense
The United States Department of Defense is the U.S...
. It was chaired by David Packard
David Packard
David Packard was a co-founder of Hewlett-Packard , serving as president , CEO , and Chairman of the Board . He served as U.S. Deputy Secretary of Defense from 1969–1971 during the Nixon administration...
.
Background
Beginning in 1981, President Ronald Reagan began an expansion in the size and capabilities of the United States armed forcesUnited States armed forces
The United States Armed Forces are the military forces of the United States. They consist of the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, and Coast Guard.The United States has a strong tradition of civilian control of the military...
, which entailed major new expenditures on weapons procurement
Procurement
Procurement is the acquisition of goods or services. It is favourable that the goods/services are appropriate and that they are procured at the best possible cost to meet the needs of the purchaser in terms of quality and quantity, time, and location...
. By the mid-1980s, this spending became a scandal when the Project On Government Oversight
Project on Government Oversight
The Project On Government Oversight , founded in 1981, is an independent non-profit organization in the United States which investigates and seeks to expose corruption and other misconduct. POGO assists whistleblowers and investigates federal agencies, Congress, and government contractors...
reported that the Pentagon
The Pentagon
The Pentagon is the headquarters of the United States Department of Defense, located in Arlington County, Virginia. As a symbol of the U.S. military, "the Pentagon" is often used metonymically to refer to the Department of Defense rather than the building itself.Designed by the American architect...
had vastly overpaid for a wide variety of items, most notoriously paying $435 for a hammer
Hammer
A hammer is a tool meant to deliver an impact to an object. The most common uses are for driving nails, fitting parts, forging metal and breaking up objects. Hammers are often designed for a specific purpose, and vary widely in their shape and structure. The usual features are a handle and a head,...
, $600 for a toilet seat
Toilet seat
A toilet seat is a hinged unit consisting of seat and lid which is bolted onto a toilet bowl for a flush toilet. A toilet seat consists of the seat itself, which may be contoured for the user to sit on, and the lid, which covers the toilet when it is not in use.If the toilet is located in a home...
, and $7600 for a coffee pot.
In response to these scandals, President Reagan appointed a commission chaired by David Packard to study government procurement
Government procurement
Government procurement, also called public tendering or public procurement, is the procurement of goods and services on behalf of a public authority, such as a government agency...
undertaken by the United States Department of Defense
United States Department of Defense
The United States Department of Defense is the U.S...
. The Commission consisted of Packard, Ernest C. Arbuckle
Ernest C. Arbuckle
Ernest C. Arbuckle was a business leader who was dean of the Stanford Graduate School of Business from 1958 to 1968.-Biography:Ernest C. "Ernie" Arbuckle was born on September 5, 1912, in Lee, New Hampshire. His family later moved to California, and he graduated from Santa Monica High School. He...
, Robert H. Barrow
Robert H. Barrow
Robert Hilliard Barrow was an American general, who was the 27th Commandant of the United States Marine Corps from 1979 to 1983. Barrow served for 41 years, including overseas command duty in three wars...
, Nicholas F. Brady
Nicholas F. Brady
Nicholas Frederick Brady was United States Secretary of the Treasury under Presidents Ronald Reagan and George H. W. Bush, and is also known for articulating the Brady Plan in March 1989.-Early life:...
, Louis W. Cabot, Frank Carlucci
Frank Carlucci
Frank Charles Carlucci III is a former official in the United States Government, associated with the Republican Party. The most prominent office held by Carlucci was as Secretary of Defense from 1987 until 1989 in the Reagan Administration.-Early life and career:Carlucci was born in Scranton,...
, William P. Clark, Jr.
William P. Clark, Jr.
William Patrick Clark, Jr. , American politician, served under President Ronald Reagan as the Deputy Secretary of State from 1981 to 1982, United States National Security Advisor from 1982 to 1983, and the Secretary of the Interior from 1983 until 1985.- Life and career :A devout Catholic, former...
, Barber Conable
Barber Conable
Barber Benjamin Conable, Jr. was a U.S. Congressman from New York and president of the World Bank.-Biography:...
, Paul F. Gorman
Paul F. Gorman
Paul Francis Gorman is a retired United States Army four star general who served as Commander in Chief, United States Southern Command from 1983 to 1985.-Military career:...
, Carla Anderson Hills
Carla Anderson Hills
Carla Anderson Hills is an American lawyer and a public figure. She served as United States Secretary of Housing and Urban Development in the Gerald Ford administration, and as U.S. Trade Representative...
, James L. Holloway III
James L. Holloway III
James Lemuel Holloway III is a retired United States Navy admiral and naval aviator who was highly decorated for his actions during World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War. After the Vietnam War, he was posted to The Pentagon, where he established the Navy's Nuclear Powered Carrier...
, William Perry
William Perry
William James Perry is an American businessman and engineer who was the United States Secretary of Defense from February 3, 1994, to January 23, 1997, under President Bill Clinton...
, Charles J. Pilliod, Jr.
Charles J. Pilliod, Jr.
Charles J. Pilliod, Jr. was an American diplomat.His ambassadorial post was in Mexico from 1986 to 1989.Pilliod had also been the CEO of the Goodyear tire companyfor 42 years before retiring in 1983....
, Brent Scowcroft
Brent Scowcroft
Brent Scowcroft, KBE was the United States National Security Advisor under Presidents Gerald Ford and George H. W. Bush and a Lieutenant General in the United States Air Force. He also served as Military Assistant to President Richard Nixon and as Deputy Assistant to the President for National...
, Herbert Stein
Herbert Stein
Herbert Stein was a senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute and was on the board of contributors of The Wall Street Journal. He was chairman of the Council of Economic Advisers under President Nixon and President Ford. From 1974 until 1984, he was the A...
, and R. James Woolsey, Jr.
R. James Woolsey, Jr.
Robert James Woolsey Jr. is a foreign policy specialist and former Director of Central Intelligence and head of the Central Intelligence Agency .-Early life:...
The President tasked the Commission with studying
Recommendations
The Packard Commission reported that there was at present "no rational system" governing defense procurement; it concluded that it was not fraud and abuse that led to massive overexpenditures, but rather "the truly costly problems are those of overcomplicated organization and rigid procedure."The Commission made several recommendations: (1) that defense appropriations
Appropriation (law)
In law and government, appropriation is the act of setting apart something for its application to a particular usage, to the exclusion of all other uses....
should be passed by the United States Congress
United States Congress
The United States Congress is the bicameral legislature of the federal government of the United States, consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives. The Congress meets in the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C....
in two-year budgets rather than annual appropriations bills; (2) the creation of a "procurement czar", to be known as the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and the creation of a clear hierarchy of acquisition executives and managers in each of the services.; (3) the theater commanders
Unified Combatant Command
A Unified Combatant Command is a United States Department of Defense command that is composed of forces from at least two Military Departments and has a broad and continuing mission. These commands are established to provide effective command and control of U.S. military forces, regardless of...
should report directly to the United States Secretary of Defense
United States Secretary of Defense
The Secretary of Defense is the head and chief executive officer of the Department of Defense of the United States of America. This position corresponds to what is generally known as a Defense Minister in other countries...
through the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff
Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff
The Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff is by law the highest ranking military officer in the United States Armed Forces, and is the principal military adviser to the President of the United States, the National Security Council, the Homeland Security Council and the Secretary of Defense...
; and (4) the powers of the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff should be strengthened.
Many of the recommendations by the commission were used when Congress
United States Congress
The United States Congress is the bicameral legislature of the federal government of the United States, consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives. The Congress meets in the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C....
reformed the Joint Chiefs of Staff
Joint Chiefs of Staff
The Joint Chiefs of Staff is a body of senior uniformed leaders in the United States Department of Defense who advise the Secretary of Defense, the Homeland Security Council, the National Security Council and the President on military matters...
system in 1986 with the Goldwater–Nichols Act.