From Chapter 10: Contracts of Mass Prevention

The first case file I received as a defense procurement officer was not a contract but a VHS video tape. The video tape had a title, "Pentagon Wars," which is also the name of the book by Col. James G. Burton, USAF, upon which it is based. My supervisor slid the video tape across the table and said, "Watch this. This will be your only training."

And he wasn't lying. This film is probably the most truthful, brutally honest documentary made about a dysfunctional procurement process. This film is a master class in how institutional arrogance, scope creep, and a fear of the truth can create a monster. As a new detective, I was given a glimpse into the shadowy world of the profession.

These are the key lessons I learned from the first case file - intelligence that has helped save me from more than one disaster throughout my career.

Key Lessons I Learned from the Case File

Perfection is the Enemy of the Good

In this story, the generals were looking for a single vehicle that could do everything: carry troops, be used as a scout vehicle, attack over water. Their desire for a "perfect" vehicle that did everything created a multi-billion dollar monstrosity that was capable of doing none of those things well. A detective knows that a good, focused solution that solves the real problem is always better than a theoretically perfect solution that never materialises.

Follow the Money (The Correct Money)

This project continued to receive funding not because of its performance but because of its budget. It was too large to kill. The money trail was not about providing value; it was about providing jobs and congressional funding. A detective should be suspicious of any project where the main reason for continuing to fund the project is because of the amount of money that has already been invested in it. That is the Sunk Cost Fallacy, and it has ruined many good projects.

The Power of a Single, Stubborn Voice

The hero of the story, Lt. Colonel Burton, wasn't a charismatic deal-maker. He was a stubborn, by-the-book investigator who simply insisted on seeing the evidence. He demanded that the weapon do what the contract said it would do. His persistence in the face of immense pressure is a lesson for every procurement professional. Sometimes, the most powerful move a detective can make is to simply stand their ground and say, "Show me the proof."