ULA says Pentagon contracts shouldn't just go to lowest Bidder

[oldAtlas_Eguy]

ULA itself has never fielded a new rocket, but its parent companies have. Delta IV and Atlas III or V didn't experience any failures even in their early days. And the level of component heritage they shared with their predecessors was about on par with or worse than what Vulcan will inherit from Atlas V and Delta IV. If they managed to make those rockets without any failures, I'm sure Vulcan can be done too

The people of ULA are the ones from Boeing and LM that did field Delta IV and Atlas V.  So, yes ULA has fielded a new rocket.

Unfortunately the persons (engineers) doing the design development of the DIV and Atlas V started work 20 years ago. Half have retired and many others have moved to different companies. Some stayed and got promoted into management positions not necessarily in the group that ended up at ULA.

But hopefully the "culture" that this group used during the development and initial operations is still in full force primarily kept going by those engineers that are now in management.

So for the workforce (engineers in the trenches) most have never been a part of a design/development of a new rocket. But undoubtedly there are a few key individuals with the experience but will that make a difference?