Assistant Secretary of the Navy (Research, Development and Acquisition)
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| Assistant Secretary of the Navy (Research, Development and Acquisition) | |
|---|---|
.png) United States Army Institute Of Heraldry · Public domain · source | |
| Post | Assistant Secretary of the Navy (Research, Development and Acquisition) |
| Department | Department of the Navy |
| Style | The Honorable |
| Reports to | United States Secretary of the Navy |
| Seat | Pentagon |
| Formation | 1966 |
| First | David W. Taylor |
Assistant Secretary of the Navy (Research, Development and Acquisition) is a civilian office in the Department of the Navy responsible for management of science, technology, engineering, and procurement for the United States Navy and the United States Marine Corps. The office integrates acquisition programs, research initiatives, and industrial base relationships across platforms including submarines, aircraft, unmanned systems, and weapons. The holder liaises with congressional committees, defense contractors, interservice counterparts, and interagency partners to align capability development with national defense priorities.
History and evolution
The position traces roots to acquisition reforms following World War II, National Security Act of 1947, and the Department of Defense Reorganization Act of 1958, responding to lessons from Battle of Midway, Battle of the Atlantic, and the Korean War. The office evolved amid the Vietnam War, the Cold War, and the technological accelerations of the Space Race, reflecting influences from programs such as the Naval Research Laboratory, Office of Naval Research, and efforts associated with Project Mercury and NAVSTAR Global Positioning System. Legislative drivers including the Defense Acquisition Workforce Improvement Act and the Goldwater-Nichols Department of Defense Reorganization Act of 1986 reshaped responsibilities, while crises like the Tailhook scandal and debates over F-35 Lightning II acquisition affected institutional reforms. The 21st century brought emphasis from events like the September 11 attacks, the Iraq War, and the War in Afghanistan (2001–2021) on expeditionary capabilities, networked systems, and unmanned platforms.
Role and responsibilities
The Assistant Secretary oversees lifecycle management for shipbuilding programs such as the Virginia-class submarine, Arleigh Burke-class destroyer, and Ford-class aircraft carrier, aircraft programs including the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet, EA-18G Growler, and MQ-25 Stingray, and weapon systems like the Tomahawk (missile), Mk 48 torpedo, and AIM-9 Sidewinder. Responsibilities include aligning research from institutions such as Massachusetts Institute of Technology, California Institute of Technology, and Naval Postgraduate School with procurement priorities; coordinating with agencies including the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, National Aeronautics and Space Administration, and National Institute of Standards and Technology; and interfacing with congressional panels such as the United States Senate Committee on Armed Services and the United States House Committee on Armed Services. The office manages contracts with industry leaders like General Dynamics, Huntington Ingalls Industries, Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, Boeing, and Raytheon Technologies and supervises compliance with statutes including the Federal Acquisition Regulation.
Organizational structure and officeholders
The office sits within the Office of the Secretary of the Navy and works alongside the Under Secretary of the Navy, the Assistant Secretary of the Navy (Manpower and Reserve Affairs), and the Chief of Naval Operations. Subordinate organizations include program executive offices such as Program Executive Office, Submarines, Program Executive Office, Aircraft Carriers, Program Executive Office, Tactical Aircraft Programs, Naval Sea Systems Command, Naval Air Systems Command, and Naval Facilities Engineering Systems Command. Notable officeholders and nominees have interacted with figures like James Forrestal, John F. Kennedy, Richard Nixon, William Perry, and recent secretaries such as Richard V. Spencer and Kenneth J. Braithwaite. Career senior executives and program managers often come from backgrounds at Sparrow Corporation and defense-focused firms, and collaborate with think tanks including Center for Strategic and International Studies, Brookings Institution, and RAND Corporation.
Major programs and acquisitions
Major shipbuilding efforts overseen include the Zumwalt-class destroyer, Littoral Combat Ship, America-class amphibious assault ship, and the Columbia-class submarine strategic deterrent program. Aviation programs have included the V-22 Osprey, CH-53K King Stallion, EA-18G, and modernization of the P-8 Poseidon. Unmanned and autonomous systems under stewardship include MQ-4C Triton, Sea Hunter, and various unmanned undersea vehicle prototypes. Missile and sensor acquisitions touch programs like Aegis Combat System, SPY-1 radar, AN/SPY-6, and integrated systems tied to Ballistic Missile Defense System efforts. Cooperative international procurements and partnerships have included ties with Royal Australian Navy, Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force, United Kingdom, NATO, and joint projects influenced by agreements such as the Wassenaar Arrangement.
Budget and procurement policy
The Assistant Secretary directs portions of the Navy and Marine Corps acquisition budget within the Department of Defense budget cycles, interacting with the Office of Management and Budget, Congressional Budget Office, and appropriation subcommittees. Budget authority covers Research, Development, Test, and Evaluation funding, procurement accounts, and operations procurements tied to emergency supplemental appropriations during conflicts like the Gulf War and the Iraq War. Policy implements acquisition frameworks derived from the Defense Acquisition System, the Joint Capabilities Integration and Development System, and guidance from the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment. Industrial base concerns involve shipbuilders such as Bath Iron Works and Newport News Shipbuilding, avionics suppliers like Honeywell Aerospace, and complex supply chains that include foreign-origin components governed by the International Traffic in Arms Regulations.
Oversight, accountability, and controversies
Oversight mechanisms include congressional hearings before the United States Senate Committee on Appropriations, investigations by the Government Accountability Office, audits by the Department of Defense Inspector General, and reviews by the Defense Science Board. Controversies and programmatic challenges have involved cost overruns and schedule delays exemplified by the F-35 Lightning II program, debate over Littoral Combat Ship performance, and congressional scrutiny during the Columbia-class submarine development. Procurement ethics and contractor relationships have prompted inquiries similar to those involving Halliburton in other defense contexts, and reform efforts echo recommendations from commissions such as the Packard Commission. Responses to cybersecurity vulnerabilities have linked the office to initiatives within United States Cyber Command and policy coordination with the National Security Agency.