Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment

Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment is a senior official in the United States Department of Defense responsible for overseeing the acquisition and sustainment of military equipment and systems. The Under Secretary is appointed by the President of the United States and confirmed by the United States Senate. The current Under Secretary is William LaPlante, who was appointed by Joe Biden and confirmed by the United States Senate on April 7, 2022. The Under Secretary works closely with other senior officials, including the Secretary of Defense, Deputy Secretary of Defense, and the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

● Introduction

The Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment plays a critical role in ensuring that the United States Armed Forces have the equipment and systems they need to perform their missions. The Under Secretary is responsible for overseeing the development and implementation of acquisition and sustainment policies, as well as working with the Defense Acquisition University to provide training and education to acquisition professionals. The Under Secretary also works closely with other government agencies, including the General Services Administration and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, to leverage their expertise and resources. Additionally, the Under Secretary collaborates with international partners, such as the North Atlantic Treaty Organization and the Australian Department of Defence, to promote cooperation and interoperability.

● Responsibilities

The Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment has a wide range of responsibilities, including overseeing the development and implementation of acquisition and sustainment policies, as well as managing the Defense Acquisition System. The Under Secretary is also responsible for ensuring that the Department of Defense complies with relevant laws and regulations, such as the Federal Acquisition Regulation and the Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement. The Under Secretary works closely with the Office of the Secretary of Defense and other senior officials to develop and implement acquisition and sustainment strategies, such as the National Defense Strategy and the Nuclear Posture Review. The Under Secretary also collaborates with the Congress of the United States, including the House Armed Services Committee and the Senate Armed Services Committee, to ensure that the Department of Defense has the resources it needs to perform its missions.

● History

The position of Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment was established on January 1, 2018, as part of a broader effort to reform the Department of Defense's acquisition system. The position was created by combining the responsibilities of the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology and Logistics and the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Technology. The first Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment was Ellen Lord, who was appointed by Donald Trump and confirmed by the United States Senate on August 1, 2017. Lord played a key role in implementing the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2017 and the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2018, which included provisions aimed at reforming the Department of Defense's acquisition system. The Under Secretary has also worked closely with other senior officials, including the Secretary of the Air Force, Heather Wilson, and the Chief of Naval Operations, John Richardson.

● Organization

The Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment is supported by a number of organizations and offices, including the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment and the Defense Acquisition University. The Under Secretary also works closely with the Military Departments, including the Department of the Army, the Department of the Navy, and the Department of the Air Force, as well as the Defense Intelligence Agency and the National Security Agency. The Under Secretary is also supported by a number of advisory boards and committees, including the Defense Acquisition Board and the Defense Science Board. Additionally, the Under Secretary collaborates with international organizations, such as the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development and the International Organization for Standardization, to promote cooperation and standardization.

● List of

Under Secretaries The following individuals have served as Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment: * Ellen Lord (2017-2021) * Stacy Cummings (2021-2022) * William LaPlante (2022-present) The Under Secretaries have worked with a number of notable individuals, including Ash Carter, James Mattis, and Mark Esper, to shape the Department of Defense's acquisition and sustainment policies. The Under Secretaries have also collaborated with international leaders, such as Angela Merkel and Boris Johnson, to promote cooperation and interoperability. Additionally, the Under Secretaries have worked with prominent institutions, including the Center for Strategic and International Studies and the RAND Corporation, to inform their decisions and policies. Category:United States Department of Defense