The Natick Soldier CenterThe Natick Soldier CenterMatthew Hill | Bret RichmondMatthew Hill | Bret Richmond

Polina Segalova | David YoshidaPolina Segalova | David YoshidaFranklin W. Olin College of EngineeringFranklin W. Olin College of Engineering

3 November 20033 November 2003

Department of Defense

ArmyOther Services

(Navy, Air Force, etc.)

USSOCOM

Army Material Command

Natick Soldier Center

Special Operations Forces Warrior

Protection RDECOM

Purpose of NSCPurpose of NSC

To maximize the warrior's To maximize the warrior's survivability, sustainability, survivability, sustainability, mobility, combat effectiveness and mobility, combat effectiveness and quality of life by treating the quality of life by treating the warrior as a system. warrior as a system.

Technology generationTechnology generation Soldier system generation Soldier system generation Solving field problemsSolving field problems Do not mass produce products Do not mass produce products

DirectoratesDirectorates

Individual protectionIndividual protection Combat feedingCombat feeding Collective ProtectionCollective Protection Airdrop/ Aerial DeliveryAirdrop/ Aerial Delivery Supporting Science and Technology Supporting Science and Technology

(biotechnology, nanotechnology)(biotechnology, nanotechnology) Warrior Systems Technology & Warrior Systems Technology &

Program IntegrationProgram Integration Objective Force WarriorObjective Force Warrior

Individual Protection Individual Protection DirectorateDirectorate Directs Research and Development Directs Research and Development

in:in:– Chemical/ Biological ProtectionChemical/ Biological Protection– Ballistic ProtectionBallistic Protection– Directed Energy ProtectionDirected Energy Protection– Environmental ProtectionEnvironmental Protection– CamouflageCamouflage– Multi-functional MaterialsMulti-functional Materials

Special Operations Special Operations Forces (SOF)Forces (SOF) 1942 – Army Rangers established1942 – Army Rangers established 1952 – Army Green Berets 1952 – Army Green Berets

formedformed 1962 – Navy SEALs created1962 – Navy SEALs created USSOCOM established in 1987USSOCOM established in 1987 USSOCOM’s role validated in USSOCOM’s role validated in

2001 with operations in 2001 with operations in AfghanistanAfghanistan

SOF Personnel and SOF Personnel and OfficeOffice SOF office does not report SOF office does not report

directly to NSCdirectly to NSC New and highly flexible New and highly flexible

organizationorganization– SOF Program Manager (PM) is SOF Program Manager (PM) is

the only civilian PM at NSCthe only civilian PM at NSC– Much financial flexibility due to Much financial flexibility due to

small volume of productssmall volume of products

Strategy Strategy Primary strategy is to “deliver Primary strategy is to “deliver

good stuff” to their customersgood stuff” to their customers Take risks – ask for Take risks – ask for

forgiveness, not permissionforgiveness, not permission Value of their reputation is Value of their reputation is

increased by:increased by:– Designing high quality productsDesigning high quality products– ““Making it right” when they Making it right” when they

make mistakesmake mistakes

““What do we produce? What do we produce? Results.”Results.”

–Fred Chan–Fred Chan

Unlike other directorates, all Unlike other directorates, all ideas come from the field, not ideas come from the field, not the labthe lab

All manufacturing is out-sourcedAll manufacturing is out-sourced Turn-around time of 2-8 months Turn-around time of 2-8 months

vs. 4-6 years for rest of militaryvs. 4-6 years for rest of military Full process managementFull process management

Production ProcessProduction Process

1.1. Field & Evaluate requestField & Evaluate request

2.2. Find or Design a Solution. Find or Design a Solution. Off-the-shelf is preferred.Off-the-shelf is preferred.

3.3. Source vendors for cost and Source vendors for cost and speedspeed

4.4. Guide vendors in transition to Guide vendors in transition to productionproduction

5.5. Follow-up with field usersFollow-up with field users

MarketingMarketing

DifferentiationDifferentiation– Emphasis on speed and resultsEmphasis on speed and results– Higher individual autonomyHigher individual autonomy– Closer link to the customersCloser link to the customers

CompetitorsCompetitors– Other government agenciesOther government agencies– Private sector companiesPrivate sector companies

Marketing StrategyMarketing Strategy– Minimal advertisement, mostly word or mouth Minimal advertisement, mostly word or mouth

and reputationand reputation– ““If you build it, they will come.”If you build it, they will come.”

FinancesFinances

Funded by DOD (~$2 million).Funded by DOD (~$2 million). Additional funding from special Additional funding from special

program budget allocations program budget allocations and directorates (~$38 million).and directorates (~$38 million).

Competes with private sector Competes with private sector defense contractors and other defense contractors and other DOD research facilities for 95% DOD research facilities for 95% of its budget of its budget

Finances - DistributionFinances - Distribution

$2 million Operations and $2 million Operations and Maintenance budget supports 9 staff Maintenance budget supports 9 staff members and capital improvementsmembers and capital improvements

$.5 million RDTE budget enables $.5 million RDTE budget enables development of commercial and off development of commercial and off the shelf products the shelf products

$37.5 Million procurement budget $37.5 Million procurement budget funds the actual purchasing of all funds the actual purchasing of all developed equipment developed equipment

Finances - BudgetingFinances - Budgeting

Requests are planned out for five Requests are planned out for five years into the futureyears into the future

Every two years the budget is Every two years the budget is reviewed and finalizedreviewed and finalized

Budget approval comes from up Budget approval comes from up the chain of command, ultimately the chain of command, ultimately receiving congressional approvalreceiving congressional approval

Budgeting received only covers Budgeting received only covers Operation and Maintenance Operation and Maintenance expensesexpenses

ConclusionConclusion

SOF Group represents a new wave SOF Group represents a new wave in military organization to respond in military organization to respond to the need for a dynamic, lean, to the need for a dynamic, lean, and productive military. and productive military.

Though entrepreneurial internally, Though entrepreneurial internally, application of its methodology to application of its methodology to other parts of the military and to other parts of the military and to SOF’s own role in the military is SOF’s own role in the military is needed.needed.

Thank youThank you

Dianne St. JeanDianne St. Jean Fred ChanFred Chan Michelle PoirierMichelle Poirier Dick BrownDick Brown Natick Soldier Center StaffNatick Soldier Center Staff