Scope Check

The Air Force needs to learn how to manage risk when it comes to technological advances, rather than avoiding risks altogether, said Joanne Maguire, Lockheed Martin Space Systems Company executive vice president. Maguire, speaking as part of an industry panel at AFA’s Global Warfare Symposium in Los Angeles, said both the Air Force and its industry partners also need to get “a lot better” at “scope creep.” Both need to become much more disciplined during the post-development period and “resist the temptation to say, ‘It would be really good to do a little bit more testing or ratchet up the scopes on these parts,'” she said during Thursday’s panel discussion. The Air Force has invested tens of billions of dollars in new space technology over the last decade and some new systems, such as new Global Positioning System satellites, are getting ready for fielding. Lockheed, she said, is now feeling the weight of making sure those investments are “successfully and appropriately” brought online.