Yep, I was part of both sides of the military industrial complex. Add in the halls of congress and you have the triad of power. I did like a lot of the 'real' engineers in the various military labs and arsenals. They frequently were not allowed to do much, but, many were a lot smarter than their contractor counterparts.

Yes, totally agree on pressure measurement. The strain gauge system works well when used properly. It is excellent for comparing load components. I cringe every time someone says their load is OK cause they have no 'signs' of excess pressure.