Rumsfeld orders reduction in Defense mishap rate

National Journal
May 27, 2003
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Defense Department officials last week announced that they will apply commercial technologies as part of an effort to reduce mishap rates for all department activities by 50 percent over the next two years.

The effort was prompted by a recent increase in mishap rates throughout the department. For example, 82 military personnel died in aviation accidents in fiscal 2002, compared with 65 aviation-related deaths in fiscal 2001, according to the Pentagon.

"World-class organizations do not tolerate preventable accidents," Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld told department heads in a May 19 memo.

Rumsfeld called a 50 percent reduction in mishap rates within two years an "achievable goal" that would directly increase the nation's operational readiness.

Accident-reduction initiatives will include developing a real-time support system for mishap decisions, applying commercial technologies on aircraft and other high-risk equipment, and adopting "best practices" from industry and other government agencies.

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