When the Department of War looks back at programs that fundamentally changed how military capability is delivered, the Mine Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) program stands out as a defining example in outcome‑driven acquisition, with clear outcome traceability from strategic intent to warfighter impact.
Cited in the Department of War’s Acquisition Transformation Strategy, MRAP demonstrated how speed, flexibility, and mission focus could dramatically improve warfighter outcomes even within the constraints of complex defense acquisition environments.
Transformation Systems Inc. (TSi) played a sustained, influential role in this transformation. From the program’s earliest rapid fielding decisions through long-term sustainment and final disposition, TSi supported the Marine Corps Systems Command (MCSC) and the Joint MRAP Vehicle Program (JMVP) across the full lifecycle, helping define, measure, and maintain outcome‑driven performance metrics with end‑to‑end outcome traceability for one of the most consequential acquisition efforts in recent history.
From 2007 to 2017, TSi delivered strategic guidance, process improvement, program management, and technical analysis that helped MRAP move faster, adapt continuously, and remain operationally focused. These efforts embedded outcome‑driven metrics in day‑to‑day decisions and preserved outcome traceability across transparency, compliance, and cross-service alignment.
MRAP emerged in response to an urgent and evolving threat: improvised explosive devices (IEDs in Iraq and Afghanistan). Traditional defense acquisition timelines — often spanning a decade or more — could not respond at the speed required to protect deployed forces.
Rather than follow the standard DoW 5000 process, MRAP adopted a fundamentally different approach.
The program prioritized time-to-field over procedural perfection, embraced calculated risk, and allowed requirements to evolve through real-world operational feedback. Vehicles reached combat zones in months, not years — saving lives and reshaping expectations for urgent acquisition.
Key characteristics of MRAP’s acquisition transformation included:
Together, these practices demonstrated that acquisition could be both fast and disciplined when mission urgency demanded it.
TSi’s involvement was not limited to a single phase or function. The company supported MRAP from early production decisions through sustainment, field modifications, and final program closeout — providing continuity, institutional knowledge, and execution discipline throughout.
Early Strategy and Rapid Fielding Support
TSi supported early Low-Rate Initial Production (LRIP) decisions by conducting procurement analyses, evaluating industry capabilities, and helping program leadership structure clear, defensible decision frameworks.
TSi staff supported the development of decision briefs that informed competitive selections and early vehicle fielding — enabling the program to move quickly without sacrificing clarity or accountability.
As MRAP matured, TSi helped develop multi-year strategic plans and contributed to the program’s historical narrative, ensuring lessons learned were captured for future acquisition efforts.
Process Improvement at Wartime Speed
A core component of TSi’s impact was the application of Lean Six Sigma principles in a high-pressure operational environment.
TSi worked with MRAP stakeholders to:
TSi also developed compliant acquisition documentation tools and process guides, enabling the program to maintain statutory and regulatory discipline while operating at unprecedented speed.
Program Management and Technical Analysis
TSi provided hands-on support across engineering, acquisition, logistics, and contracts teams. This included technical evaluations of vehicle modification proposals, analysis of sustainment challenges, and support for capability insertions across multiple MRAP variants.
TSi personnel also supported operations at the MRAP Sustainment Facility in Kuwait, improving retrofit efficiency, parts reconciliation, and sustainment workflows for vehicles deployed in theater.
Enterprise Integration and Stakeholder Alignment
MRAP required coordination across the Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force, and Special Operations Command — along with industry partners and international users.
TSi facilitated Integrated Product Teams (IPTs), logistics summits, international user conferences, and senior-level management forums to keep stakeholders aligned and decisions moving.
Notably, TSi helped establish and lead the Enterprise Integration Strategy (EIS) IPT, which coordinated more than 70 major business processes, supported strategic and mid-term planning, and institutionalized peer reviews that improved transparency and accountability across the enterprise.
TSi’s MRAP work exemplified principles that remain central to modern acquisition reform.
Speed to Capability
TSi helped enable rapid delivery of “good enough” solutions, paired with continuous improvement driven by real-world feedback — ensuring capability reached the field when it mattered most.
Risk-Balanced Flexibility
By supporting performance-based specifications, TSi enabled requirements to evolve as threats changed, without disrupting schedules or undermining quality.
Integrated, Cross-Functional Teams
TSi’s enterprise integration approach broke down silos and accelerated informed decision-making across disciplines.
Workforce Empowerment
TSi invested in leadership development, coaching, MBTI training, and Lean Six Sigma certification, helping teams operate effectively in high-risk, high-tempo environments.
Data-Driven Transparency
Enterprise scorecards, peer reviews, and tools like the Performance Requirements Summary (PRS) ensured decisions were grounded in data and aligned with operational realities.
TSi’s contributions earned formal recognition from MRAP leadership and helped establish the program as a model for future rapid acquisition efforts.
More importantly, TSi helped demonstrate that acquisition transformation is achievable — delivering speed, adaptability, and accountability when mission urgency demands it.
That legacy continues to inform how TSi supports today’s defense and federal missions, where outcomes, agility, and collaboration remain critical to success.
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