It was he who coined the procurement mantra FIST (Fast, Inexpensive, Simple and Tiny) to "describe a particular pattern of decision making in procurement that aims to support rapid, low cost innovation".

BBC: Week ahead in committee

The roundtable took place over eight hours on 26 February 1990 and brought together a group of extraordinarily knowledgeable individuals from the government, the private sector, and the press. (A list of participants is attached.) Its purpose was to review with care the implications of the B-2 for U.S. security, particularly those attending any decision not to proceed with its procurement as planned.

CENTERFORSECURITYPOLICY: Roundtable Discussion On The B-2 Bomber

With traditional IT models, a decision to prototype a new system generally involves the procurement and installation of expensive hardware, with the associated checks and delays that conventional purchasing requires.

FORBES: Cloud Computing Now Makes It Easier (and Cheaper) to Innovate: Study

The far more dramatic upshot of the JROC decision, however, will be the multiplied benefit to the nation of this military procurement.

CENTERFORSECURITYPOLICY: Peace dividend on wings of the Osprey

Responding to Monday's debate, defence procurement minister Peter Luff said no decisions had been made on long-term maintenance contracts but the "main investment decision for support arrangements" would be taken "before the middle of this decade".

BBC: Gordon Brown urges aircraft carrier work at Rosyth