List of Figures vii -- List of Tables ix -- Preface xi -- Acknowledgments xv -- Acronyms, Abbreviations, and Program Names xvii -- Part I Activation Energy (1931-1968) -- 1. Washington . . . We Have a Problem . . . 3 -- 2. The Quantum Leap 6 -- 3. Preparation 21 -- 4. The Final Frontiers 29 -- 5. Minuteman Means Reliability 58 -- 6. Skinning Cats 68 -- Part II Startup Transient (1969-1980) -- 7. Changing the Sea State 87 -- 8. Space Parts: From A to S 93 -- 9. There's S, and Then There's S 122 -- 10. A Little Revolution Now and Then Is Good 140 -- 11. Quality on the Horizon 144 -- Part III Switching Transient (1980-1989) -- 12. Crossing the Operational Divide 153 -- 13. Stocking the Shelves 168 -- 14. Hammered 184 -- 15. Battlegrounds: Reorganization and Reform 187 -- 16. Implementing Change in a Changing World 207 -- Part IV Shorting To Ground (1989-2002) -- 17. Leap First, Look Later 231 -- 18. Hardly Standing PAT 248 -- Part V Resetting the Circuit Breakers -- 19. Brewing the Perfect Storm 277 -- 20. Summing the Parts 301 -- Epilogue: Can One Ever Truly Go Home Again? 309 -- Index 322