Assistant Secretary of Defense for Acquisition

Summary

The Assistant Secretary of Defense for Acquisition, or ASD (A), is one of three assistant secretaries reporting to the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment.[2] The position is the principal advisor to the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment, the Deputy Secretary of Defense, and the Secretary of Defense on matters relating to acquisition program management; the Department of Defense Acquisition System; and the development of strategic, space, intelligence, tactical warfare, command and control, and business systems.[3]

Assistant Secretary of Defense for Acquisition
Emblem of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Sustainment
Incumbent
Cara L. Abercrombie
since 7 March 2024[1]
Office of the Secretary of Defense
Reports toUnder Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment
Deputy Secretary of Defense
Secretary of Defense
AppointerThe President
with the advice and consent of the Senate
Term lengthNo fixed term
FormationOctober 2011
Succession16th in SecDef succession
DeputyJohn M. Tenaglia
SalaryLevel IV of the Executive Schedule
Websitewww.acq.osd.mil/asda

Roles & responsibilities edit

The Assistant Secretary of Defense for Acquisition's priority, is to deliver a Defense Acquisition System that is flexible, tailorable, and enables speed, and is able to deliver capability at the point of need. Currently, the office is focused on transitioning from an acquisition system that is expensive, slow, and burdensome towards one involving reduced timelines, lower costs, and improved quality.[2]

Organization edit

The Assistant Secretary of Defense for Acquisition has the following people reporting to them:[4]

  • Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Acquisition
  • Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Acquisition Enablers
  • Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Strategic, Space, and Intelligence Portfolio Management
  • Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Platform and Weapon Portfolio Management
  • Executive Director, Joint Rapid Acquisition Cell
  • Principal Director, Defense Pricing and Contracting
  • President, Defense Acquisition University
  • Director, Defense Contract Management Agency

Office holders edit

No. Assistant Secretary[5] Term SecDef(s) Served Under President(s) Served Under Ref(s)
Portrait Name Took office Left office Term length
 
Katrina G. McFarland
Acting
1 October 201124 May 2012236 daysLeon PanettaBarack Obama[6]
1
 
Katrina G. McFarland24 May 201220 January 20174 years, 241 daysLeon Panetta
Chuck Hagel
Ash Carter
Barack Obama[7]
 
Dyke D. Weatherington
Acting
20 January 201714 December 2017328 daysJim MattisDonald Trump 
 
James A. MacStravic
Acting
14 December 201718 February 201866 daysJim MattisDonald Trump 
2
 
Kevin M. Fahey18 February 201820 January 20212 years, 337 daysJim Mattis
Mark Esper
Donald Trump[8]
 
Dyke D. Weatherington
Acting
20 January 202130 June 2021161 daysLloyd AustinJoe Biden[3][9]
 
Christopher C. O'Donnell
Acting
1 July 202115 March 2022257 daysLloyd AustinJoe Biden[10]
 
Tanya M. Skeen
Acting
~3 March 202215 August 2023~1 year, 165 daysLloyd AustinJoe Biden[11][12]
 
Gary A. Ashworth
Acting
15 August 20237 March 2024205 daysLloyd AustinJoe Biden[13][14]
3
 
Cara L. Abercrombie7 March 2024Incumbent33 daysLloyd AustinJoe Biden[15]

Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary edit

No. Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary Term SecDef(s) Served Under President(s) Served Under Ref(s)
Portrait Name Took office Left office Term length
1
 
Stacy A. CummingsMarch 201920 January 2021~1 year, 311 daysMark EsperDonald Trump[16]
 
Christopher C. O'Donnell
Acting
20 January 202130 June 2021161 daysLloyd AustinJoe Biden 
 
John M. Tenaglia
Acting
1 July 20213 March 2022245 daysLloyd AustinJoe Biden[10]
 
Christopher C. O'Donnell
Acting
~3 March 202215 August 2023~1 year, 165 daysLloyd AustinJoe Biden 
 
John M. Tenaglia
Acting
15 August 20237 March 2024205 daysLloyd AustinJoe Biden[17]
2
 
Gary A. Ashworth7 March 2024Incumbent33 daysLloyd AustinJoe Biden[18]

References edit

  1. ^ https://www.linkedin.com/posts/ousd-as_acquisition-and-sustainment-leadership-transition-activity-7171189646884757505-sF4d
  2. ^ a b "Assistant Secretary of Defense for Acquisition - OUSD A&S". Retrieved 14 February 2021.
  3. ^ a b "Dyke D. Weatherington". Retrieved 14 February 2021.
  4. ^ "ASD(A) Organization Chart". Retrieved 15 February 2021.
  5. ^ "Department of Defense Key Officials September 1947–March 2022" (PDF). Historical Office of the Office of the Secretary of Defense.
  6. ^ "Katrina G. McFarland, assitant [sic] secretary of defense (acquisition)". 6 May 2015. Retrieved 15 February 2021.
  7. ^ "Katrina G. McFarland, assitant [sic] secretary of defense (acquisition)". 6 May 2015. Retrieved 15 February 2021.
  8. ^ "Kevin M. Fahey – Senate Armed Service Committee – Confirmation Hearing-Nominee to be Assistant Secretary of Defense for Acquisition" (PDF). Retrieved 15 February 2021.
  9. ^ "Memorandum for Senior Pentagon Leadership Defense Agency and DOD Field Activity Directors" (PDF). 19 January 2021. p. 2. Retrieved 15 February 2021.
  10. ^ a b "OUSD A&S Leadership". www.acq.osd.mil. Retrieved 4 August 2021.
  11. ^ "OUSD A&S Leadership".
  12. ^ https://www.linkedin.com/company/asd-acquisition/ [self-published source]
  13. ^ "OUSD A&S - Assistant Secretary of Defense (Acquisition)".
  14. ^ https://www.linkedin.com/posts/ousd-as_acquisition-and-sustainment-leadership-transition-activity-7171189646884757505-sF4d
  15. ^ "OUSD A&S - Assistant Secretary of Defense (Acquisition)".
  16. ^ "Cummings to serve as acting Pentagon acquisition head". DefenseNews. 13 January 2021. Retrieved 15 February 2021.
  17. ^ "OUSD A&S Leadership".
  18. ^ "OUSD A&S - Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense (Acquisition)".