Posted by How VAMOSC VIEWS Can Help You!
Life Cycle Cost Track
LCC03_Presentation_HowVAMOSCVIEWSCanHelpYou_Welsh
Abstract:
Several recent developments underscore the importance of identifying and analyzing operating and support (O&S) costs for weapon systems. This brief will present the VAMOSC VIEWS, innovative graphical displays of O&S cost data that serve as an invaluable tool for the cost analyst.
In response to current economic conditions, we are entering an environment of reduced budgets within the Department of Defense (DoD). Legislative initiatives, starting with the Weapon Systems Acquisition Reform Act (WSARA) of 2009, are aimed squarely at increasing the visibility and use of O&S costs in weapon systems decision-making. In its assessment of weapon system sustainment programs, the DoD’s Product Support Assessment Team concluded that obtaining more insight into O&S costs is critical to determining weapon system affordability. The Naval Visibility And Management of Operating and Support Costs (VAMOSC) system, which collects and reports US Navy historical O&S costs, provides an excellent foundation from which to addresses these concerns. The VAMOSC VIEWS are a graphical representation of the Navy O&S data from the VAMOSC system to provide analysis of O&S costs for ships, aircraft, and Military Sealift Command (MSC) vessels. The VAMOSC VIEWS analyze everything from annual fuel costs per ton for ships to annual I-Level maintenance per aircraft for active and retired platforms. This presentation focuses on three areas in which to use the VAMOSC VIEWS and provides an application addressing each.
– Develop Early-on ROM Estimate: The VAMOSC VIEWS provide total O&S costs by platform for ships which enable the development of high level cost estimates.
– Assess Technical Inputs/Assumptions: The VAMOSC VIEWS are a validation tool that can be used to check reasonableness of technical inputs and assumptions. Inputs such as crew size, operating tempo (OPTEMPO), and fuel consumption can be compared against technical parameters for current ships.
– Perform Cost Assessments: The VAMOSC VIEWS give analysts the ability to analyze O&S cost trends over time and compare estimated costs with historical costs. The VAMOSC VIEWS enable analysts to assess costs such as maintenance and supplies as well as the personnel skill mix.
Data visualization is becoming an increasingly prevalent and important method of data analysis. The VAMOSC VIEWS are powerful tools that visually present and analyze O&S cost data for ships and aircraft, and give both analysts and decision makers needed insight into total annual platform costs and key components. In the current environment, this insight is crucial in identifying opportunities for O&S cost savings over the life cycle of a program.
Author(s):
Brian A. Welsh
Technomics, Inc.
Mr. Brian A. Welsh works for Technomics, Inc. in Arlington, VA. Mr. Welsh has over 6 years of experience in the cost analysis arena working on projects for the Department of Defense, Department of Energy, NASA and the Intelligence Community. His current work focuses on cost research for the Navys Visibility and Management of Operating and Support Cost database. Mr. Welsh is also developing an acquisition cost database of Unmanned Aerial Systems and a Space and Missile Command Cost Analysis Methods and Processes study. He has also worked on Government Accountability Office engagements of FAA NextGen systems and Navy Ballistic Missile Defense cost estimates. Prior to joining Technomics he worked for TASC, Inc. While at TASC Mr. Welsh was a manager of cost and financial analysis programs supporting the IC. Mr. Welsh is a Certified Cost Estimator Analyst (CCE/A), has a Bachelor of Science in Systems Engineering from the University of Virginia and a Master of Science from George Mason University in Operations Research.
Walter R. Cooper
Technomics, Inc.
Walt Cooper is a Senior Cost Analyst with Technomics, Inc. in Arlington, Virginia. He is assisting in the development of new displays for analysis of major defense acquisition programs, developing procedures for estimating the fully burdened cost of energy for Army combat systems, and working with the Naval VAMOSC team to develop data displays useful in the analysis of O&S cost data.
Prior to joining Technomics, Walt was an Operations Research Analyst in the Cost Assessment and Program Evaluation (CAPE) Directorate, Office, Secretary of Defense (OSD). As a CAPE analyst, Walt led the development of independent life cycle cost estimates of the Armys Future Combat Systems. He served as the DoD coordinator for the Visibility and Management of Operating and Support Costs (VAMOSC) program, which collects actual operating and support (O&S) costs for the three military departments weapon systems. He initiated the development of requirements for collection of costs from sustainment contractors. He prepared independent estimates of the O&S costs of the Navys CVN-21 program and the USMCs V-22 program (OSPREY). Pursuant to a provision in the Weapon Systems Acquisition reform Act of 2009 (WSARA), Walt authored a report to Congress on the DoDs methods for tracking and assessing O&S costs for major defense acquisition programs.
Prior to his service with OSD CAPE, Walt managed the resource analysis program at LMI. Previously, as a United States Army officer, He led platoons and a rifle company in Vietnam, served as operations officer on the demilitarized zone in Korea, and was a staff officer in the Headquarters, Department of the Army and in OSD.
Walt has a BA in mathematics from the University of Vermont, an MBA in operations research and systems analysis from Tulane University, and an MS in finance from The American University. His military awards include the Silver Star, the Defense Superior Service, the Legion of Merit, four awards of the Bronze Star and the Purple Heart. His civilian government service awards include the Office of the Secretary of Defense Award for Excellence and the Medal for Exceptional Civilian Service.
Paul L. Hardin
Technomics, Inc.
Paul Hardin is presently employed as a Senior Cost Analyst with Technomics, Inc. Mr. Hardins principal areas of expertise are methodology design and model development, including expert application of non-linear optimization techniques. Over the last several years, he has developed improved, innovative estimating methods for high risk non-recurring acquisition cost elements (e.g., design engineering, software development and integration) and operating and support (O&S) cost elements. Mr. Hardin has played a key role in the development of two Navy cost tools, Operating and Support Cost Analysis Model (OSCAM) and Navy Visibility and Management of Operating and Support Cost (VAMOSC) VIEWS.
Prior to accepting a position with Technomics, Mr. Hardin worked for the Office of the Secretary of Defense (OSD), Cost Analysis Improvement Group (CAIG) and the Naval Center for Cost Analysis (NCCA).
Mr. Hardin graduated from the Georgia Institute of Technology with a Bachelors degree in Industrial Engineering in 1991 and received a Masters degree in Systems Engineering from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University in May 1999
Elizabeth A. Koza
Technomics, Inc.
Elizabeth Koza, a Senior Cost Analyst at Technomics, Inc., has over eleven years experience in the analysis and estimation of costs associated with the development, production, and operations and support (O&S) of weapons systems. She currently supports the Navy Visibility and Management of Operating and Support Cost (VAMOSC) Program and the Offshore Patrol Cutter (OPC) for the US Coast Guard. Since joining Technomics in December 2005, she has focused on O&S cost estimating. In addition to supporting the VAMOSC Program by creating VAMOSC VIEWS, Ms. Koza has applied her O&S cost estimating knowledge by developing several O&S estimates for a variety of programs, such as: Common Submarine Radio Room (CSRR), Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) Mission Packages, and Navy Ballistic Defense (BMD). Ms. Koza began her cost analysis career at the Naval Surface Warfare Center (NSWC) Carderock Division, where she primarily developed acquisition cost estimates for the Ohio Class SSGN Conversion Program. During this time, she was onsite at the Naval Sea Systems Command Cost Engineering and Industrial Analysis Division (NAVSEA 05C).
Ms. Koza earned a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from the Johns Hopkins University and a Master of Engineering from the University of Maryland in Systems Engineering.
Robert Nehring
Technomics, Inc.
Mr. Nehring is a cost analyst for Technomics, where he has been involved on many projects throughout the Department of Defense (DoD), including the Army, Navy, Coast Guard, and Marine Corps. Early in his career, Mr. Nehring supported the Office of Naval Research by leading a project that analyzed and assessed the schedule and staffing projections for the Navy’s Littoral Combat Ship (LCS). Once joining Technomics, he has provided cost support to many programs including LCS, Ohio Replacement Program, Capabilities Knowledge Base, and others. In addition, he has been heavily involved in building both submarine and surface combatant performance based cost models for the Navy. Currently, he primarily supports the Coast Guard Offshore Patrol Cutter, the Navy’s Visibility and Management of Operating and Support Cost (VAMOSC) database, and the OSD CAPE in the Cost Assessment Productivity Project. Mr. Nehring holds both undergraduate and graduate degrees in Industrial and Systems Engineering from Virginia Tech and is a SCEA-Certified Cost Estimator/Analyst (CCEA).