Acquisition Innovation

A soldier from the 8th Cavalry Regiment, retrieves a drone during the Allied Spirit 24 exercise in Germany, photo by Micah Wilson/U.S. Army

A soldier from the 8th Cavalry Regiment, retrieves a drone during the Allied Spirit 24 exercise in Germany

Photo by Micah Wilson/U.S. Army

Arroyo research projects seek to reduce U.S. Army procurement costs and improve the speed and effectiveness of acquiring necessary resources.

Arroyo's research on U.S. Army acquisition focuses on enhancing decision-making and optimizing resources. One recent project evaluates the strengths and limitations of cost-effectiveness analysis for capability investments, guiding the Army and Department of Defense on its application. Another study examines trade-offs between strategic goals and costs of various campaigning instruments, identifying the most effective ones under specific conditions. Research also highlights how RAND's federally funded research and development centers (FFRDCs) have helped save the government money by solving complex problems. Researchers also examined the modernization efforts of Russia and China to identify areas of strength and challenge in their defense systems. Inventory management is also studied, and researchers recommend focusing on storage and repair costs rather than total dollar value. Another project suggests examining options to address capability gaps, such as countering long-range rockets and supporting robotics research.