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I like love to write. It doesn't matter whether it's fiction or non, serious or funny, books or blogs. I truly enjoy the experience of putting words together in interesting ways... with one exception.I...
View ArticleRPL, Year 1
Before Rogue Project Leader was a blog, it was a webzine. Every month, several friends and I would publish a new collection of articles and features. There was even a poetry corner and it wasn't half...
View ArticleLessons From Nuclear Power
The nuclear situation in Japan got me thinking once again about nuclear power... and its implications for engineering design.I really dislike nuclear power. In fact, I think we shouldn't do it. But...
View ArticleNerd Crush
I admit it, I have a major acquisition nerd crush on the GAO. I don't read every report they put out, but their annual Assessment of Selected Weapon Programs is always a big event for me. It's like the...
View ArticleGAO on JSF
Tuesday's post looked at the VA Class subs from the GAO's perspective. Today, let's see what my favorite government accountability office has to say about a different project: the Joint Strike...
View ArticleAcquisition Innovation Wiki
The Citizen Apps website is a very cool initiative that provides a wide range of social media tools for federal agencies to use in their outreach efforts. It provides a framework for blogs, wiki's and...
View ArticleTRIZ 40 Principles
If you're not familiar with Genrich Altshuller's Theory of Inventive Problem Solving (aka TRIZ), today might be a good day to check it out.TRIZ is a fascinating tool set, designed to help people solve...
View ArticleFIST Goes To War
Got word last week that I'm being deployed to Afghanistan for 6 months. Not tomorrow, but soon enough.I'll be in Kabul. Don't have a lot of other info at this point but I'll be sure to share what I...
View ArticleNeeds versus Wants
What do we really need systems to do? Is it enough to be good enough, or must each new product be perfect? Is a partial solution acceptable, or should users hold out until they can get everything they...
View ArticleWhat Is Better?
I am increasingly convinced that one of the main sources of the troubles in the program management arena is bad definitions of goodness.That's not to downplay the impact of weak relationships, poor...
View ArticleImpossible / Impressive
Why doesn't the USAF have a requirement for an invisible jet like the one Wonder Woman flies? Nevermind that any pilot sitting inside the invisible jet was completely visible, it's still an awesome...
View ArticleSelf-Inflicted Complexity
One of the major themes of my work is that military technology projects (and tech projects in general) don't have to take so long, cost so much or be so complicated. That is, the cost, delay and...
View ArticlePriorities
Finding out you're going to get deployed does marvelous things to your priorities. Specifically, it clarifies them brilliantly.I find I've become much more deliberate with my time, now that I suddenly...
View ArticleYou MUST!
I came across this old beat up sign on a street corner in DC and had to take a photo with my handy-dandy, fuzzy little camera phone. The sign informs pedestrians that they must ("MUST") push a button...
View ArticleShortening The Max
Kickstarter is an online fundraising platform that helps connect small investors with creative types. It's a wonderful way for people to quickly raise small amounts of money to help fund interesting...
View ArticleNo Sale
Check out this photo, which I snapped at the local grocery store using my handy-dandy, oh-so-fuzzy, 1.3 Megapixel camera phone.In case it's not clear, this is a sign for a "SPECIAL!" sale - regular...
View ArticleAmbiguity
Quick, what does that license plate mean? Is the driver an ornithologist who specializes in birds from the genus Sialia of the thrush family (i.e. a Blue Birder)? Or was I following a medical...
View ArticleBrilliant
At a Chick-Fil-A a while back, I came across these little bowls, nestled among the napkins & straws. What a cool idea - free cheerios!This is one of the most sensitive and insightful things I've...
View ArticleInternet Famous
My Death Star article has generated a lot of discussion around the interwebs lately, which is awesomely cool and exciting. It's also pushed some new traffic to my blog, which is also cool and exciting,...
View ArticleFree book!
Since I've got a few new readers on this blog now (hello!), I figured I should mention that I've got a few books you might be interested in. One of 'em is even free.The free one is called The...
View ArticleThoughts On the Death Star Article
All the attention my Death Star article has received got me thinking. Figured I'd share a few observations:1) If you want something to go viral, mention Star Wars. I've published 55+ articles and even...
View ArticleFor Me? Thanks!
As I was waiting for the Blue Line train in DC's Metro, I noticed a sign that sort of called my name.Apparently, the DC Metro's website is MetroForWard.com. I thought that was awfully nice of them to...
View ArticleDIY
In a public restroom of some restaurant or other, I came across this sign.I waited and waited, but no staff showed up to wash my hands for me. Eventually I got tired of waiting and washed my own dang...
View ArticleOdd Policy
At the local Best Buy, I came across a sign that explains their We Check ID policy.I whipped out my handy-dandy, oh-so-fuzzy little camera phone and took this shot. Per usual, it's pretty out of focus...
View ArticleDeath Star Acquisitions Follow-up
I just came across a pair of articles responding to my Death Star article. The first one, by a gentleman named Gulliver, called it "easily the best article I've seen in a defense acqusition trade...
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