July 1st, 2024

Whiz Kids (Department of Defense)

The Whiz Kids, experts from RAND Corp, collaborated with Robert McNamara in the 1960s to modernize the US Department of Defense using economic analysis, game theory, and modern management systems. Their efforts revolutionized defense management.

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Whiz Kids (Department of Defense)

The Whiz Kids were a group of experts from the RAND Corporation who worked with Robert McNamara in the 1960s to revamp the management of the United States Department of Defense. Their goal was to develop a modern defense strategy in the Nuclear Age by incorporating economic analysis, operations research, game theory, computing, and modern management systems like the Planning, Programming, and Budgeting System (PPBS). Named after a similar group at Ford Motor Company where McNamara had previously worked, the Whiz Kids brought together individuals such as Harold Brown, Alain Enthoven, and Pierre Sprey. Their efforts aimed to streamline the vast operations of the DoD and enhance coordination. The group's work marked a significant shift in defense management practices during that era.

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By @zer00eyz - 4 months
And on the other side of the coin you had this:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Project_100,000 AKA McNamara's Morons. Forest Gump and Bubba going off to Vietnam was a reality for a lot of people who were from the lower end of the aptitude score.