Department of Bad Ideas: 3D Printing a Tank.

• Author: Magnuson, Stew

Jeffrey White, principal deputy in the office of the assistant secretary of the Army for acquisition, logistics and technology, is intimately familiar with ongoing controversy of who owns military contractors' intellectual property. White came to the job from Siemens Government Technologies. Some officials want it all, as he explained at NDIA's recent Tactical Wheeled Vehicles conference.

"I actually had a very, very senior officer look at me and say, 'Jeff, we need the IP for everything and I want you to send me everything.'

"What does everything mean?

"He said, 'Well, we need to be able to 3D-print a...