Rapid Acquisition

USAF-514 Swift Strategy didn't come to digitize program data. They came to solve a speed problem—when program managers manually develop acquisition strategies from scratch, critical capabilities arrive years too late.

What's At Stake

DoD acquisition programs face mounting pressure to deliver capabilities faster while managing increasing complexity. Program managers currently develop comprehensive acquisition strategies through manual analysis of historical and current program data—a time-intensive process that delays critical defense capabilities. Without automated intelligence systems, each program reinvents strategic analysis rather than building on institutional knowledge.

Pentagon Discovery Mission

Led by Natalie Edwards, USAF-514 Swift Strategy recognized that acquisition problems aren't solved in academic settings—they're solved where program managers face delivery pressures daily. Their Pentagon site visit enabled direct engagement with acquisition teams across multiple program offices.

The team conducted 10-12 stakeholder interviews with program managers and acquisition professionals, observing workflows and identifying unarticulated needs that remote communication couldn't reveal. These conversations exposed how current manual processes create bottlenecks and how automated strategy development could accelerate program timelines.

Automated Strategy Development

USAF-514 Swift Strategy developed a system that leverages historical DoD program data to rapidly generate comprehensive acquisition strategies. Their solution combines institutional knowledge with current program parameters to provide program managers with data-driven strategic recommendations rather than starting from blank templates.

The Pentagon visits enabled real-world testing of their tool functionality and usability assumptions. Direct feedback from acquisition professionals helped prioritize features that address the most critical workflow pain points and ensure user adoption.

Operators of Another Kind

Natalie Edwards, leading the effort from Indiana University, brought systems automation expertise to defense acquisition challenges. Working alongside teammates Ayinde Williams, Milaun Huskey, and Sultan Alfahim, the team combined technical development with direct stakeholder engagement across program offices.

What Comes Next

USAF-514 Swift Strategy continues refining their automated acquisition strategy system based on Pentagon feedback, with program managers providing ongoing validation of strategic recommendations. Their solution targets the speed and consistency gaps that currently delay critical defense capabilities.

They didn't just study acquisition processes. They automated the strategic thinking behind them.