The first publication in a multivolume series on the history of the acquisition of major weapon systems by the Department of Defense, author Elliott Converse presents a meticulously researched overview of changes in acquisition policies, organizations, and processes within the United States military establishment during the decade and a half following World War II. Many of the changes that shaped the nature and course of weapons research and development, production, and contracting through the end of the century were instituted between 1945 and 1960; many of the problems that have repeatedly challenged defense policymakers and acquisition professionals also first surfaced during these years. This study is the first to combine the histories of the Office of the Secretary of Defense (OSD) and the military services into one account. The volume is organized chronologically, with individual chapters addressing the roles of OSD, the Army, Navy and Air Force in two distinct periods.

World War II: a watershed ----- Organizing for national security: OSD and acquisition, 1945-1949. Coordination of research and development prior to the National Security Act -- The Research and Development Board -- Coordination of procurement prior to the National Security Act -- The Munitions board ----- The response to war: OSD and acquisition, 1950-1953. Rearmament: purposes and organization -- Requirements estimates and production schedules -- Production difficulties -- The attack on production delays -- Production priorities -- Research and development ----- Mission and materiel: the Army and acquisition, 1945-1953. The Army, 1945-1953: an overview -- Organization for acquisition -- Research and development -- Procurement and production ----- Emergence of the weapon system concept: the Air Force and acquisition, 1945-1953. The Air Force, 1945-1953: an overview -- Organizing to exploit science and technology -- Determining requirements -- Managing the acquisition process ----- The Air Force and the aircraft manufacturing industry. Industry overview -- The Air Force and the industry's postwar crisis -- The Air Force, Boeing, and B-47 production -- Employment of retired military officers in industry ----- Decentralization and fragmentation: the Navy and acquisition, 1945-1953. An overview of the Navy, 1945-1953 -- Organization for acquisition -- Acquisition of a nuclear weapons delivery capability -- The Marine Corps and acquisition: the Amtracs / Centralization begins: OSD and acquisition, 1953-1960. The Eisenhower administration and national defense -- Organization for acquisition -- The Robertson Committee -- The acquisition workforce ----- Ascendancy of the weapon system concept: the Air Force and acquisition, 1953-1960. The Air Force in the 1950s -- Organization for Acquisition -- The weapon system concept and the acquisition process -- The B-58 strategic bomber -- The weapon system concept and ballistic missiles / Toward centralization and the systems approach: the Navy and acquisition, 1953-1960. The Navy in the Eisenhower years -- Acquisition organization and management -- Naval aviation: toward the weapon system approach ----- Creating a missile and rocket force: the Army and acquisition, 1953-1960. The nuclear army of the Eisenhower era -- Centralization of research and development management -- The attack on lead time -- Missile acquisition and industry relationships ----- Conclusion.