Widespread personnel problems in the area of basic research in science and technology at the Defense Department must be addressed in order to improve the agency's technical talent pool, according to a May 2009 report from JASON, an independent Defense advisory group which consults with the government on science and technology.

The Federation of American Scientists obtained the report through a Freedom of Information Act request, posting it online in May.

The report says that many technically literate program officers, scientists and engineers who shaped DoD research within the agency or as contractors have moved on, and the new generation lacks the appropriate training to continue the research mission.

The JASON study also notes that fixing these problems will be extremely complex, and "neither throwing more money at these problems nor simple changes in procedures and definitions will fix them."

According to the report, JASON recommends that DoD make the basic research program more visible and coherent, improve collaboration and quality of DoD Lab and academic groups, and grow a high-quality science and technology workforce.

"The study's most fundamental recommendation is to protect 6.1 funding at the OSD level by strengthening and expanding the role of the DDR&E, with a greater visibility in the Department and greater capability to understand and shape the services' 6.1 activities," the report states. "The creation of a Basic Research Advisory Committee comprised of qualified DoD and external personnel would also help in this regard."

According to a cover letter on the study from Alan R. Shaffer, principal deputy, director of defense research and engineering, the study is part of a larger effort to evaluate and assure the strength of science and technology within the DoD.

Many of the report's recommendations are being studied or implemented, said Shaffer. New outreach and collaboration is underway with universities and laboratories based on the JASON report, as well as a previous report by the National Academy of Sciences and an upcoming report by the Defense Science Board.

For more:
- see the report which was provided as a FOIA request to FAS

Related Articles:
Federal gerontocracy poses IT worker hiring problems
DHS building cyber workforce
Q&A: MOAA on careers after military service
DARPA seeking faster, smaller, greener supercomputers