Developing and Structuring a Permanent Contracting Command in the United States Marine Corps to Maximize the Training, Education and Potential of Military Contracting Officers in Order to be Better Prepared to Support the Operational Forces and Lead the M

The Marine Corps contracting community continually refines its policies and procedures as a response to the changing environment it operates in. The objective of this thesis was to develop a permanent contracting command structure in order to maximize the training, education and potential of the military contracting officers. To accomplish this objective, this thesis identified the historical and statutory basis for government contracting, where billets for qualified Marine Corps military contracting officers exist and where they are currently non-existent yet in demand, and the roles and responsibilities of the Marine Corps military contracting officers. Based upon this archival research and interviews with members of the contracting community, this thesis developed a framework for a new permanent contracting command structure through the use of an integrated systems model. This model assists in creating more military contracting officer billets, standardizes the reporting and operational chains of command, promotes stability, growth and development, aids in boosting retention, and creates a path for career progression. This study is a proactive approach to the changing environment of contracting that will better prepare the contracting community to support the operational forces and lead the Marine Corps through the 21st century.Naval Postgraduate School Monterey CA is the author of 'Developing and Structuring a Permanent Contracting Command in the United States Marine Corps to Maximize the Training, Education and Potential of Military Contracting Officers in Order to be Better Prepared to Support the Operational Forces and Lead the M', published 2000 under ISBN 9781423532569 and ISBN 1423532562.