One Small Step for Space Acquisition Doctrine
following section briefly overviews the correlative findings between the survey, the PM Essentials, and the Defense Board best practices. Triangulation to Other Best Practices The final portion of the analysis will briefly examine the alignment of the study with additional PM best practice documents. Part of Calvelli’s “three pieces to the puzzle” included the PM Essentials, which he stated “will allow [dedicated space PMs and acquisition professionals] to drive acquisition speed, deliver programs on cost and schedule, and be successful in [their] career” (Calvelli, 2023). Both AI models were used to evaluate how well the final COMET-K (Appendix D) themes aligned to the PM Essentials and the best practices identified in the 2023 Defense Board Report. Table 7 provides overall alignment percentages.
TABLE 7. “OTHER” BEST PRACTICES ALIGNMENT
PM Essentials
Defense Business Board
GPT
Claude
AVG
GPT
Claude
AVG
85%
80%
83%
85%
90%
88%
Note. PM = Program/Product Manager.
PM Essentials At a macro level, the survey and PM Essentials both emphasized the importance of technical knowledge, proactive risk management, and the need for continuous improvement and adaptation to change. Both emphasized the critical role of communication and collaboration through open dialogue (both within government and with industry partners). Lastly, both highlighted the importance of understanding industry dynamics to effectively manage programs. Model analysis and closer inspection of the COMET-K themes indicate that PM Essentials should be considered for inclusion in space acquisition doctrine. Defense Business Board The survey did not align verbatim across all recommended best practices, but the overall sentiment aligned with the board’s insights. The survey emphasized collaboration, the integration of teams, and streamlined decision-making, which aligned with the board’s identification of IMDs as a successful way to integrate operators and acquisition professionals under one organization (collocation). The board’s identification of using the Space Systems Command Commercial Space Office emphasizes using commercial capabilities. It fosters better
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Defense ARJ, Summer 2025, Vol. 32 No. 2: 132—193
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