DCAPES

The Deliberate and Crisis Action Planning and Execution System (DCAPES) is essential for the Department of the Air Force, aiding in the Air Force Force Generation process. It projects forces, including weapon systems, logistics, and personnel, to ensure mission-ready forces are available for global air, space, and cyberspace operations. The system's main goal is to enhance operational readiness by organizing these forces into effects-based operational capability packages for Joint commanders worldwide.

DCAPES Increment 2B introduces several technical enhancements. These include supporting Public Key Infrastructure and replacing Social Security Account Numbers with the Electronic Data Interchange Personal Identifier for identifying Air Force personnel. This phase also involves cloud migration and mobile application development. The program focuses on agile development projects that align with warfighter priorities and has transitioned to the Software Acquisition Pathway to improve software development efficiency.

In FY 2025, efforts from DCAPES Increment 2B were moved to DCAPES Continuous Development (Cont Dev) as part of its transition out of ACAT 1AC status. The Continuous Development phase emphasizes managing technical debt and engineering improvements while migrating production environments to cloud infrastructure. It also involves developing logistics detail for Manpower and Force Equipment Packaging modules and updating tools like the Allocation Tool Suite. These initiatives aim to maintain rapid capability delivery based on evolving warfighter needs.

The acquisition strategy for DCAPES employs a hybrid Agile approach, allowing incremental delivery of capabilities based on warfighter priorities. The program management office collaborates with various partners through service level agreements and memorandums to ensure comprehensive test support before deploying final capability packages. This strategy facilitates rapid development and deployment of new capabilities while managing risks associated with accelerated delivery timelines.