Defense Acquisition Executive
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| Defense Acquisition Executive | |
|---|---|
| Name | Defense Acquisition Executive |
| Department | United States Department of Defense |
| Reports to | Secretary of Defense |
| Seat | The Pentagon |
| Appointer | President of the United States |
Defense Acquisition Executive The Defense Acquisition Executive is the senior official in the United States Department of Defense responsible for oversight of major procurement and weapon systems acquisition programs. The office integrates policy from the Office of the Secretary of Defense, coordinates with the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and interfaces with the United States Congress on programmatics, budgetary matters, and milestone decisions. It plays a central role in translating strategic guidance from the National Security Council and the Secretary of Defense into acquisition outcomes across services such as the United States Army, United States Navy, and United States Air Force.
Overview
The office serves as the principal decision authority for defense acquisition programs, exercising delegated authorities derived from the Clinger–Cohen Act, the Goldwater–Nichols Act, and statutes embedded in the United States Code. It balances requirements from the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment, acquisition workforce priorities reflected in the Defense Acquisition University, and capabilities requested by combatant commands such as United States Central Command and United States Indo-Pacific Command. The office interacts routinely with congressional committees including the Senate Armed Services Committee and the House Armed Services Committee on program approvals and reprogramming.
Legal Authority and Responsibilities
Statutory authorities derive from provisions in the United States Code and implementing policy in issuance such as the DoD Instruction 5000.02 acquisition policy documents. Responsibilities include milestone decision approval, acquisition category designation, and emergency acquisition authorities exercised in conjunction with the Secretary of Defense and President of the United States during contingencies like Operation Enduring Freedom or Operation Iraqi Freedom. The office enforces compliance with statutes including Title 10 of the United States Code and audit requirements aligned with the Government Accountability Office and the Inspector General of the Department of Defense.
Organizational Structure and Office Holders
The position is nested within the Office of the Secretary of Defense and often held by the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment or a delegated senior official. The office coordinates with service acquisition executives such as the Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Research, Development and Acquisition, the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force (Acquisition, Technology and Logistics), and the Army Acquisition Executive. Past holders have included prominent officials with backgrounds at institutions like Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, Lockheed Martin, and Boeing. The staff includes representatives from the Program Executive Office structure, the Joint Requirements Oversight Council, and comptroller offices such as the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense (Comptroller).
Acquisition Policy and Lifecycle Management
Policy instruments govern milestones from Materiel Development Decision through production and sustainment, aligning with lifecycle phases employed by Program Executive Offices and major defense contractors including Northrop Grumman and Raytheon Technologies. The office enforces processes for systems engineering, test and evaluation coordinated with the Director, Operational Test and Evaluation, and requirements adjudication informed by analyses from the RAND Corporation and the Center for Strategic and International Studies. It manages tradeoffs among cost, schedule, and performance while engaging with modeling groups such as the Institute for Defense Analyses.
Major Programs and Decision Milestones
The Defense Acquisition Executive adjudicates milestone decisions for Major Defense Acquisition Programs including platforms like the F-35 Lightning II, the Virginia-class submarine, the Columbia-class submarine, and the Zumwalt-class destroyer. Milestone Decision Authorities evaluate program baselines, acquisition strategies, and concurrency risks, often in coordination with the Office of the Secretary of Defense (Comptroller) and the Congressional Budget Office. Decisions may affect industrial partners such as General Dynamics and supply chain considerations tied to events like the COVID-19 pandemic and international procurement programs with allies like NATO members.
Oversight, Accountability, and Audits
Oversight mechanisms include coordination with the Government Accountability Office, DOD Inspector General, and congressional oversight hearings before committees including the Senate Appropriations Committee and the House Oversight Committee. The office responds to audits, Selected Acquisition Reports, and special reviews of contingency contracting as seen in operations like Operation Iraqi Freedom. It oversees risk management frameworks, cost estimating practices tied to the Cost Assessment and Program Evaluation office, and corrective actions following audits by entities such as the Defense Contract Audit Agency.
Historical Development and Reforms
The role evolved following legislative reforms in the late 20th century including the Goldwater–Nichols Act and acquisition reforms responding to procurement challenges during the Gulf War and subsequent operations. Reforms emphasized lifecycle management, strengthened acquisition workforce training via the Defense Acquisition University, and instituted policy updates such as revisions to DoD Instruction 5000.02. Notable reform episodes involved responses to program overruns like the A-12 Avenger II cancellation and subsequent changes influenced by commissions including the Packard Commission and studies from the National Defense Industrial Association.