If you ever wondered why our government always seems to spend more than it takes in, this might explain a few things:<\/p>\n
\nOnce an Agency within the Intelligence Community started a research program to learn some techniques for processing.\u00a0 There are three types of research programs a) 6-1:\u00a0 essentially do research no one has done before and invent new technology b) 6-2: take research from 6-1 or other 6-2 projects and apply it but do it in a manner so that it doesn’t live on – this means don’t build in a lot of the infrastructure required to sustain it for 10 or more years – achieve the learning objective and that is it and c) 6-3: take research from 6-1, 6-2, or other 6-3, or some combination and build a system expected to go operational and be sustained in use for a period of time.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n \nThis Agency chose to do a 6-2 research program.\u00a0 It was interesting and they learned a lot.\u00a0 At the time I and my technical director were putting together an architecture for an area that served both the Department of Defense and the Intelligence Community.\u00a0 We were directed to include this project in the architecture.\u00a0 We spent time looking at it and traveling to see it and traveling to talk to people who worked on it.\u00a0 Our input was we already have an operational system that does everything this does and more – it is not needed.\u00a0 It got to be really hotly contested but I and my technical director would not budge.\u00a0 One day the general called me into his office and said I had to include in the architecture – the Senate was insisting on it.\u00a0 (side note:\u00a0 an architecture is a documentation of what and why something is happening – it consists of inputs, outputs, constraints, and mechanisms where the mechanisms are how things are done and by whom).\u00a0 So the next day I brought my drawings to him with the effort in the drawings.\u00a0 He looked at me and got red and said “I said to include it”.\u00a0 I replied “I did, see that box over here?”\u00a0 He said “the box isn’t connected to anything – where are the inputs, outputs, constraints”?\u00a0 I said, “Well sir, the Senate hasn’t told me that yet and I am unable to figure it out – perhaps you could ask them for this information and I’ll include it.”\u00a0 Fortunately for me – the general I worked for was a great man – he roared with laughter\u00a0 He rolled everything up and left.\u00a0 I got chewed out for sending him into the lion’s den and that what I did was wrong.\u00a0 The general came back to the office a few days later.\u00a0 Said I opened a can of worms.\u00a0 Turns out two contractor’s got fired from their companies and it was found that they were making this into a money deal for the companies – the companies got off with a verbal slap and firing the two contractors – who permanently lost clearances with the US intelligence community.\u00a0 I smiled.\u00a0 The BG said “well, done”.\u00a0 The other people who yelled at me are still wondering to this day what happened.\u00a0 We saved the government about $100M with that little stunt.\u00a0 This is yet another reason I never made senior.<\/strong><\/p>\n She should have been promoted on the spot!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" If you ever wondered why our government always seems to spend more than it takes in, this might explain a few things: Once an Agency within the Intelligence Community started a research program to learn some techniques for processing.\u00a0 There … Continue reading