Given the likely exposure of U.S. Air Force (USAF) weapon system supply chains to foreign interests, USAF could potentially benefit from a robust supply chain risk management (SCRM) capability to evaluate and mitigate risks associated with the globalization of supply chains. To help USAF evolve its SCRM practices to keep pace with challenges of globalization, we researched academic literature on SCRM, reviewed federal and U.S. Department of Defense (DoD), and USAF policy and regulations related to supply chain management and acquisitions, and interviewed personnel from across USAF and DoD. This report recommends specific ways in which USAF can evolve its organization, policy, training, and data practices to avoid and to mitigate supply chain risk. This report is intended to help USAF approach SCRM from an enterprise perspective; a companion report offers practical guidance for those responsible for implementing SCRM within program offices.

The research reported here was commissioned by the Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Logistics and Product Support (SAF/AQD) and conducted within the Resource Management Program of RAND Project AIR FORCE as part of a fiscal year 2019 project, Globalization of the Supply Chain. This report should be of interest to acquisition professionals and those responsible for mission assurance.

RAND Project AIR FORCE (PAF), a division of the RAND Corporation, is the Department of the Air Force’s (DAF’s) federally funded research and development center for studies and analyses. PAF provides the DAF with independent analyses of policy alternatives affecting the development, employment, combat readiness, and support of current and future air, space, and cyber forces. Research is conducted in four programs: Strategy and Doctrine; Force Modernization and Employment; Manpower, Personnel, and Training; and Resource Management. The research reported here was prepared under contract FA7014-16-D-1000.

Additional information about PAF is available on our website: www.rand.org/paf/

This report documents work originally shared with the Department of the Air Force on September 23, 2019. The draft report, issued on September 27, 2019, was reviewed by formal peer reviewers and DAF subject-matter experts.