Jay Mandelbaum Author

Dr. Jay Mandelbaum is a research staff member at the Institute for Defense Analyses. His research is focused on identifying best practices for value engineering in DoD including providing recommendations for policy, guidance, and program management. Dr. Mandelbaum is also involved in research related to conducting technology readiness assessments in the context of the Defense acquisition process; establishing best quality assurance, manufacturing, and systems engineering practices for Defense programs; and improving how DoD acquires new equipment and services. Dr. Mandelbaum joined IDA in April 2004 after a 30 year career with the Federal Government. From 2002 to 2004, Dr. Mandelbaum was a member of the Systems Engineering staff in the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology and Logistics. He led DoD’s value engineering program and also managed an effort to reduce total ownership costs of defense systems. Dr. Mandelbaum received his MS and DSc in operations research from The George Washington University in 1976 and 1982 respectively. He earned a BS. in phsics from Rutgers University in 1969.

Mr. Anthony C. Hermes is a research staff member at the Institute for Defense Analyses. Mr. Hermes has eight years of work experience with the Institute for Defense Analyses including support to Department of Defense, Department of Homeland Security, and Department of Energy. He is currently working value engineering issues for the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology, and Logistics. Prior to coming to his current position, He spent 26 years in the U.S. Army where he held leadership and management positions. His experiences included major construction management; facilities engineering management; acquisition cost analysis; planning, programming, budgeting, and execution analysis; operations research analysis; and joint, inter-agency, and combined/coalition operations. Much of his value engineering experiences were gained while serving with the Corps of Engineers including as Chief, Base Realignment and Closure Office, Headquarters Corps of Engineers. Mr. Hermes received a B.S. in Engineering Technology in 1970 and an MBA in Operations Research in 1980 from Texas A&M University.

Mr. Donald E. Parker is an independent building consultant performing due diligence services for prospective buyers of commercial property, programming and budgetary work for developers, and value engineering and estimating services for owners and designers. In the last decade he served as Executive Vice President of National Government Properties with responsibility for Property Management of its $280 million dollar portfolio of leased office, warehouse and clinic space. Mr. Parker was an employee of the Federal Government for 28 years. With the General Services Administration, he served as Special Assistant to the Commissioner, Public Buildings Service, directed their value engineering program and established value engineering in the design and construction industry. He is author of the four value engineering textbooks. Mr. Parker received his BS degree in civil engineering from Northwestern University in 1960. He is a professional engineer, a certified cost engineer, and a certified value specialist (life).

Ms. Heather W. Williams is a research associate at the Institute for Defense Analyses where her research focuses include systems engineering and nuclear weapons policy. She is also a PhD candidate in the War Studies Department at King's College London, and her thesis topic is "The Legacy of 'Trust but Verify' in U.S.-Russia Arms Control." Heather has received a BA in International Relations and Russian Studies from Boston University in 2004 and an MA in Security Policy Studies from the George Washington University in 2008