A Publication of DAU
Featured Book Securing the MRAP: Lessons Learned in Marketing and Military Procurement Author: James M. Hasik Publisher: Texas A&M University Press Copyright Date: 2021 Hard/Softcover/Digital: Hardcover, 320 pages
ISBN-13: 978-1-62349-942-6 Reviewed by: Ronald Hicks
Review: Securing the MRAP is a hindsight overview of military acquisition barriers and marketing breakthroughs of the eventual program. The study begins with a need to respond to new insurgent tactics, continues through concept acceptance with industry growing pains, and eventually results in a need for political sponsorship. The author identifies three objectives from three points of view: (a) “… to evaluate the various theories of how military innovation happens…” (p. 14) for researchers; (b) “to describe how to market innovative products to military customers” (p. 14) for practitioners; and (c) “to illustrate potential ways to harness private ambitions for public benefit” (p. 14) for policymakers. The book highlights the issues of “wartime procurement in response to emergent needs” versus “the economics of wartime production" (p. 13). The author explores military innovation as a bottom-up approach from the field, a top-down approach from headquarters, and a need for a blended approach of entrepreneurial change agents. As Hasik progresses through the MRAP history, he touches on important lessons such as how we, in peacetime, keep the required competence to avoid losses in the beginning of the next conflict. Could it be because the next emergent need clashes with institutional preference or because the industrial base is not prepared? He continues by providing a good summary of the DoD acquisition process and potential stumbling blocks. Issues discussed include the following:
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Defense ARJ , Spring 2025, Vol. 32 No. 1
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