Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology and Logistics
Generated by GPT-5-miniExpansion Funnel Raw 81 → Dedup 5 → NER 4 → Enqueued 0
| Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology and Logistics | |
|---|---|
| Post | Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology and Logistics |
| Body | United States Department of Defense |
| Appointer | President of the United States |
| Formation | 1986 |
Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology and Logistics is a senior civilian position within the United States Department of Defense responsible for supervising procurement, research, development, and logistics for the United States Armed Forces, including the United States Army, United States Navy, United States Marine Corps, and United States Air Force. The office coordinated with the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, National Aeronautics and Space Administration, National Security Agency, and defense industry contractors such as Lockheed Martin, Boeing, and Northrop Grumman to manage major acquisition programs, materiel readiness, and technology transition. The role interacted with congressional committees including the United States Senate Armed Services Committee and the United States House Committee on Armed Services as well as with the Government Accountability Office and the Office of Management and Budget.
Role and Responsibilities
The Under Secretary oversaw acquisition policy, program execution, and life-cycle logistics for platforms like the F-35 Lightning II, Arleigh Burke-class destroyer, and M1 Abrams while coordinating research with Battelle Memorial Institute, SRI International, and MIT Lincoln Laboratory. The office set requirements in consultation with the Joint Chiefs of Staff and component acquisition executives from U.S. Special Operations Command and United States Space Force derivatives, managed interactions with prime contractors such as General Dynamics and Raytheon Technologies, and enforced statutes including the Clinger–Cohen Act and the Federal Acquisition Regulation. Responsibilities included oversight of test and evaluation with the Operational Test and Evaluation Directorate, supply chain resilience involving firms like BAE Systems, and export controls linked to the International Traffic in Arms Regulations.
History and Evolution
Established in response to reforms following defense procurement scrutiny in the 1970s and 1980s, the office succeeded earlier acquisition offices shaped by events such as the Gulf War and the Cold War. Influences included the Packard Commission, the Goldwater–Nichols Act, and congressional oversight after programs like the A-12 Avenger II cancellation. Over time responsibilities expanded to integrate acquisition reform initiatives championed by Secretaries of Defense such as Donald Rumsfeld and William Perry, and to incorporate emerging domains exemplified by the creation of the United States Cyber Command and the elevation of space-related acquisition activities preceding the establishment of the United States Space Force.
Organizational Structure and Offices
The Under Secretary's staff coordinated directorates responsible for program acquisition, technology, and logistics, and worked with sub-offices such as the Defense Innovation Unit, the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering, and the Pentagon Force Protection Agency on cross-cutting issues. Liaison relationships included the Defense Logistics Agency, the Armed Services Procurement Office, and the National Defense University for workforce development. The office employed acquisition professionals with backgrounds from Carnegie Mellon University, Johns Hopkins University, and Massachusetts Institute of Technology and liaised with defense labs like Naval Research Laboratory and Air Force Research Laboratory.
Key Functions and Programs
Major programs under the office's purview included the modernization of tactical aircraft such as the F-22 Raptor, shipbuilding programs like the Zumwalt-class destroyer, and ground systems modernization including the Stryker and Future Combat Systems initiatives. The Under Secretary oversaw procurement rules affecting programs funded through the Defense Production Act, technology transition from the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency and coordination with the Federal Aviation Administration for unmanned systems. Programs addressing cyber resilience, artificial intelligence collaborations with Google and IBM research partnerships, and spectrum management involving the Federal Communications Commission also featured prominently.
Appointment and Oversight
The Under Secretary was nominated by the President of the United States and confirmed by the United States Senate, often following hearings before the Senate Armed Services Committee and reviews by the Senate Committee on Appropriations. Oversight mechanisms included inquiries from the Government Accountability Office, budget reviews by the Office of Management and Budget, and statutory reporting requirements to congressional defense committees. Interagency coordination involved the Department of State for foreign military sales and the Department of Commerce for export controls.
Budget and Acquisition Policy
The office influenced the defense procurement budget within the Department of Defense budget submission to the United States Congress, overseeing program objective memorandum inputs and shaping policies under the Federal Acquisition Regulation and statutory frameworks like the National Defense Authorization Act. Investment priorities balanced near-term procurement for formations like the United States Marine Corps with long-term research investments in collaboration with National Science Foundation-funded institutions and defense industrial base considerations involving firms such as Honeywell and L3Harris Technologies.
Notable Officeholders and Impact
Notable occupants engaged with acquisition reform and major programs included figures who negotiated contracts with SAIC, restructured programs linked to the KC-46 Pegasus, and influenced technology transitions following initiatives from DARPA and the Homeland Security Act. Their tenures were often marked by interactions with Secretaries of Defense such as Robert Gates and Leon Panetta, and by responses to crises including post-9/11 mobilization and operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. The office's legacy includes integration of acquisition and logistics practices, reforms adopted after scrutiny by the Government Accountability Office, and contributions to capability development across the United States Armed Forces.