Home - Cost Assessment & Program Evaluation

CAPE'S MISSION

We support the Secretary and other DoD senior leaders through independent, unbiased, and fact-based decision support on the size, shape, affordability, disposition, and readiness of the future joint force to achieve the National Defense Strategy. We do this by:

About

Leadership
Susanna Blume
Susanna Blume SES
Director CAPE

The Honorable Susanna V. Blume is the Director, Cost Assessment and Program Evaluation (CAPE) in the Office of the Secretary of Defense (OSD). In this role, Blume is responsible for providing independent analysis to the Secretary and Deputy Secretary of Defense. She leads CAPE in supporting the Department’s most difficult resource allocation decisions as well as providing leadership in the Department’s analytic and cost estimation communities.

Previously Blume served as Senior Fellow and Director of the Defense Program at the Center for a New American Security. Prior to that, she was the Deputy Chief of Staff for Programs and Plans to the Deputy Secretary of Defense, whom she advised on programming and budget issues, global force management, operational and strategic planning, force posture, and acquisition policy. During this time, Blume also served as Executive Secretary of the Deputy's Management Action Group, the Department's top resource decision-making body. Blume has also served in the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Policy and in the Office of the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Plans and Posture.

Blume holds a master's degree in international studies from the Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies, a law degree from the George Washington University Law School, and a bachelor's degree in the history of art from the Johns Hopkins University

Description

The Office of Cost Assessment and Program Evaluation (CAPE) was established in 2009 as part of the Weapon Systems Acquisition Reform Act (WSARA). The origins of the office date to 1961 with the establishment of the Office of Systems Analysis, which became the Office of Program Evaluation and Analysis in the mid-1970s. The CAPE staff consists of approximately 150 people, including both government civilians and military officers. The military officers serve in two- to three-year rotational assignments with the organization and are selected for both their operational and technical expertise. CAPE's civilian and military staff is highly educated, with backgrounds in a variety of academic disciplines, including physics, economics, engineering, mathematics, biology, computer science, and operations research. Approximately 42% of the analytic civilian staff holds a doctorate in their field, and a substantial share have prior military experience.

By law, the CAPE Director reports directly to the Secretary and Deputy Secretary of Defense, providing independent analytic advice on all aspects of the defense program, including alternative weapon systems and force structures, the development and evaluation of defense program alternatives, and the cost-effectiveness of defense systems.

CAPE is responsible for the management of the Department's programming process, including development of planning guidance (in conjunction with other organizations within the Office of the Secretary of Defense), production of applicable programming guidance, and direction of the annual program review. The ultimate product of the program review is the Future Years Defense Program - the authoritative statement of what the Department plans, year by year, in terms of force structure (how many ships, brigades and divisions, aircraft squadrons and wings, etc., we will operate), procurement (how many ships, tanks, aircraft, missiles, etc., we will buy), manpower (how many people, military and civilian, we plan to employ in each of the services and defense agencies), other supporting programs (such as R&D and military construction), and what it will all cost.

CAPE helps to shape the force in the long-term by providing analysis and advice on resource issues to the Joint Requirements Oversight Council as well as formulating study guidance for analyses of alternatives for major defense acquisition programs. In addition, CAPE plays a central role in conducting analyses and formulating alternatives for major DoD-wide assessments, such as the Quadrennial Defense Review and the Secretary's Strategic Portfolio Reviews.

At the direction of the Secretary, Deputy Secretary, or the Director, the CAPE team also conducts numerous special studies and offers advice in other areas, such as military medical care, school systems for military dependents, information technology, and defense economics. These special studies sometimes include support to other federal agencies, several of which have created their own program analysis groups modeled on CAPE.

As an independent advisor to the Secretary, CAPE conducts analyses to answer the critical questions needed to shape and implement the Secretary of Defense's priorities and direction. Toward that end, CAPE leads the necessary but often unpopular task of fitting the defense program to the budgetary limits set for the Department by the President and Congress. Consistent with its advisory role, the office has no direct decision authority or line responsibility and has no vested interest in any sector of the defense budget.

Public Reports


CAPE produces reports in accordance with WSARA 2009 and other guidance.
Title FY
FY 2022 Annual Report on Cost Assessment Activities
Release April, 2023.
PDF designed for doublesided printing, blank pages are intentional.
FY 2022
FY 2021 Annual Report on Cost Assessment Activities
Release April, 2022.
PDF designed for doublesided printing, blank pages are intentional.
FY 2021
FY 2020 Annual Report on Cost Assessment Activities
Release May, 2021.
PDF designed for doublesided printing, blank pages are intentional.
FY 2020
FY 2019 Annual Report on Cost Assessment Activities
Release March, 2020.
PDF designed for doublesided printing, blank pages are intentional.
FY 2019
FY 2018 Annual Report on Cost Assessment Activities
Release May, 2019.
PDF designed for doublesided printing, blank pages are intentional.
FY 2018
FY 2017 Annual Report on Cost Assessment Activities
Released May, 2018.
PDF designed for doublesided printing, blank pages are intentional
FY 2017
FY 2016 Annual Report on Cost Assessment Activities
Released February, 2017.
PDF designed for doublesided printing, blank pages are intentional.
FY 2016
FY 2015 Annual Report on Cost Assessment Activities
Released February, 2016.
PDF designed for doublesided printing, blank pages are intentional.
FY 2015
FY 2014 Annual Report on Cost Assessment Activities
Released April, 2015.
PDF designed for doublesided printing, blank pages are intentional.
FY 2014
FY 2013 Annual Report on Cost Assessment Activities
Released April, 2014.
PDF designed for doublesided printing, blank pages are intentional.
FY 2013
FY 2012 Annual Report on Cost Assessment Activities
Released April, 2013.
PDF designed for doublesided printing, blank pages are intentional.
FY 2012
FY 2011 Annual Report on Cost Assessment Activities
Released May 7, 2012.
PDF designed for doublesided printing, blank pages are intentional.
FY 2011
FY 2010 Annual Report on Cost Assessment Activities
Released July 26, 2011.
PDF designed for doublesided printing, blank pages are intentional.
FY 2010
FY 2009 Annual Report on Cost Assessment Activities
Released June 2, 2010.
PDF designed for doublesided printing, blank pages are intentional.
FY 2009

Other Topical Reports
Additonal reports related to CAPE and WSARA
Title FY
Analysis of Alternatives Cost Estimating Handbook
Release January, 2022.
FY 2022
Inflation and Escalation Best Practices for Cost Analysis
Release December, 2021.
FY 2022
DOD Cost Estimating Guide
Release February, 2022.
FY 2022
Operating and Support Cost-Estimating Guide
Released September 2020.
FY 2020
Organizational Structure Review of the
Personnel Accounting Community
Released July 2014.
FY 2014
Study of DoD's Cost Indices
IDA produced this report in accordance with WSARA

Released May 9, 2012.
PDF designed for doublesided printing, blank pages are intentional.
FY 2010 - 2012
FY2023 DoD Budget Request

The Department of Defense (DoD) Fiscal Year (FY) 2023 budget request fully aligns and robustly resources the 2022 NDS to meet the Nation’s most solemn obligation – protecting the security of the American people. Building upon the foundation of the President’s Interim National Security Strategic Guidance, which focuses on making smart and disciplined choices regarding our national defense and the responsible use of our military, the budget is constructed to realize the 2022 NDS.

The FY 2023 budget request is aligned with, and will advance the 2022 NDS objectives through each of the NDS strategic approaches :

  1. Integrated Deterrence: Demonstrated through major weapons programs, recapitalizing of the nuclear triad, space and cyberspace activities, and missile defeat and defense
  2. Campaigning: Evidenced by day-to-day activities and actions, overseas operations, readiness training and exercises, and continuous engagement and collaboration with our Allies and partners to advance our shared interests
  3. Building Enduring Advantages: Delivered through innovation and modernization, the defense ecosystem and partnerships, reforms, addressing the climate crisis, and fighting COVID-19

Related CAPE Web Sites

Useful Links

Employment Opportunities

Working for CAPE
Were Hiring

General:

CAPE is part "think tank," part consulting firm, and part investigative agency. Our employees all wear the broad job title of Operations Research Analyst, reflecting the breadth of issues being considered within the Department of Defense on a day-to-day basis.
CAPE is seeking highly talented professionals with graduate education in quantitative fields, as well as demonstrated analytical ability. Since the issues CAPE works with tend to be broad, it is necessary to have a desire and ability to see the big picture and to rapidly acquire knowledge beyond a particular field of expertise. An excellent ability to communicate, both orally and in writing, is essential.
CAPE has professionals in the fields of mathematics, physics, biochemistry, molecular biology, chemistry, aeronautical engineering, computer science, economics, and many other related technical fields.
CAPE periodically has vacancies for Schedule B Excepted Service Operations Research Analysts in a variety of areas, which can include:
  1. Analyzing proposed systems related to intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (degree in the physical sciences, engineering, math, or operations research desired)
  2. Developing metrics for the Secretary of Defense
  3. Performing campaign analyses in the assessment of programs
  4. Preparing independent cost estimates of current and proposed DoD systems
  5. Analyzing proposed tactical aircraft systems

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