Development of the CALS requirements and the status of its introduction and implementation in the United State and United States Air Force

The United States Air Force has long been a leader in the Department of Defense and Industry, through contractual relationships, for the implementation of new and innovative methods of doing business. The author discusses its implementation of computer-aided acquisition and logistics support (CALS). The CALS initiative was mandated by the Department of Defense (DoD) in 1985, to automate the way in which technical data will be procured, received, managed and used within the US armed services. The author considers its background, the CALS infrastructure, benefits, application and implementation philosophy.<>