Simulation-based acquisition

The Director for Test Systems Engineering and Evaluation (DTSE&E), which was disestablished by US Secretary of Defense on 7 June 1999 and part of its functions are now with the Director, Operational Test and Evaluation (DOT&E), commissioned in 1995 a one year study completed in 1996 to assess the effectiveness of the use of M&S in the weapon systems acquisition and support processes.

The DTSE&E study developed a new approach to acquisition which is called simulation-based acquisition (SBA). Ellen M. Purdy, action officer within Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Research, Development and Acquisition (ASA-RDA), was one of several people who analyzed Dr. Sanders' strategy and realized the significant effect such an approach would have on acquisition.