U.S. ARMY RAPID CAPABILITIES OFFICE
The Army Rapid Capabilities Office was created in August 2016 to expedite acquisition of select capabilities. The Army Rapid Capabilities Office will enable the Army to experiment, evolve and deliver technologies in real time to address both urgent and emerging threats, while supporting acquisition reform efforts.
MISSION
The Army Rapid Capabilities Office will expedite the fielding of critical combat capabilities to the warfighter and enhance materiel responses to meet Combatant Commanders' needs. The Army Rapid Capabilities Office will rapidly develop, acquire, integrate and equip selected capabilities; implement streamlined acquisition methods, processes and techniques; and act as an agent of change by challenging traditional approaches. Although flexible in its capability, the Army Rapid Capabilities Office will primarily focus on the highest Army requirements with an intent to deliver an operational effect within one to five years.
ORGANIZATION
The Army Rapid Capabilities Office reports to a Board of Directors (BOD) led by the Secretary of the Army. All decision-making authority related to Army Rapid Capabilities Office projects resides within the BOD and Army Rapid Capabilities Office construct, including addressing requirements refinement, acquisition tailoring, contracting execution, testing and potential limited fielding decisions. (If and when any Army Rapid Capabilities Office projects reach the Acquisition Category 1 level, milestone decision authority resides with the Undersecretary of Defense (Acquisition, Technology and Logistics) (USD (AT&L)).
KEY OPERATING PRINCIPLES
Key operating principles for Army Rapid Capabilities Office include a short and narrow chain of command, overarching programmatic insight, early and prominent warfighter involvement, and a collaborative integrated team of functional specialists. The Army Rapid Capabilities Office will leverage innovation by other government agencies and industry partners, as well as warfighter feedback, to deliver solutions on an accelerated timeline. Ordinarily, enduring capabilities resulting from these efforts will be transitioned over to a Program Executive Office for continued production, modification, sustainment, and support. The Army Rapid Capabilities Office will provide expertise not solely focused on materiel; it seeks to provide holistic solutions that inform the Doctrine, Organization, Training, Materiel, Leadership, Personnel, Facilities and Policy (DOTMLPF) impacts of implementing new capabilities within the operational Army.
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