Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment

The Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment, or USD(A&S), is a senior civilian official in the Office of the Secretary of Defense within the Department of Defense. USD(A&S) is the principal staff assistant and advisor to the Secretary of Defense and the Deputy Secretary of Defense for all matters concerning Departmental acquisition and sustainment.

The Under Secretary is appointed from civilian life by the President with the consent of the Senate to serve at the pleasure of the President.

Ellen Lord became the first Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment on 1 February 2018, after serving as the final Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology and Logistics.

Overview
The Office is the principal staff element for the Department of Defense for acquisitions, advanced technology, and logistics. As the Department's chief administrative officer, the Under Secretary oversees installation management, military construction, occupational health management, utilities and energy management; business management modernization, document services, and nuclear, chemical, and biological defense programs.

History
The Military Retirement Reform Act of 1986 created the position of Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition (USD(A)), which was implemented with the issuance of Department of Defense Directive 5134.1 in February 1987. As part of this act, the position of Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering (USD(R&E)) was redesignated as the Director of Defense Research and Engineering (DDR&E), a lower-ranking position which reported to the new USD(A).

The title of USD(A) was changed to Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Technology (USD(A&T)) by the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1994, and the position was later redesignated as the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology, and Logistics (USD(AT&L)) by the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2000. The USD(AT&L) served as the principal assistant to the Secretary of Defense for research and development, production, procurement, logistics, and military construction.

The National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2017 removed the position of USD(AT&L), and in its place it created the position of USD(R&E) once again, as well as the new position of USD(A&S). These changes took effect on 1 February 2018. As part of the reorganization, the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Logistics and Materiel Readiness (ASD(L&MR)) and Assistant Secretary of Defense for Energy, Installations, and Environment (ASD(EI&E)) positions were combined into a new Assistant Secretary of Defense for Sustainment.

Organization
Officials reporting to the USD(A&S) include:
 * Assistant Secretary of Defense for Acquisition
 * Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Manufacturing and Industrial Base Policy (MIBP)
 * Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Policy, Planning, Resources, and Performance
 * Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Warfare Systems Support
 * Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Defense Procurement
 * Defense Acquisition University
 * Assistant Secretary of Defense for Sustainment
 * Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Material Readiness
 * Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Program Support and Logistics Policy
 * Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Transportation Policy
 * Assistant Secretary of Defense for Nuclear, Chemical & Biological Defense Programs
 * Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Nuclear Matters
 * Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Chemical and Biological Defense Policy
 * Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Threat Reduction and Arms Control
 * Defense Logistics Agency
 * Defense Contract Management Agency
 * Defense Threat Reduction Agency

Office of the Under Secretary
The Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisitions, Technology and Logistics (OUSD(AT&L)), a unit of the Office of the Secretary of Defense, supervises all Department of Defense acquisitions, including procurement of goods and services, research and development, developmental testing, and contract administration, for all elements of the Department. Led by the Under Secretary, OUSD(AT&L) oversees logistics, maintenance, and sustainment support for all elements of the Department and establishes policies for the maintenance of the defense industrial base of the United States.

The work of OUSD(AT&L) is conducted through its several staff directorates, including:
 * Human Capital Initiatives Directorate - responsible for executing all workforce responsibilities identified by the Secretary of Defense
 * Acquisition Resources and Analyses Directorate - integrates the diverse aspects of Defense acquisition into a balanced and coherent program that supports the National Strategy and makes the most effective use of resources provided
 * International Cooperation Directorate - supports the Under Secretary in all aspects of international cooperation, develops policy for international cooperative armaments programs, and provides the Under Secretary a single, integrated picture of international cooperative activities
 * Special Programs Directorate - manages the DoD Special Access Program (SAP) management and control structures
 * Small Business Programs Directorate - advises the Secretary of Defense on all matters related to small business and is committed to maximizing the contributions of small business in DoD acquisitions
 * Administration Directorate - serves as the central focal point for all OUSD(AT&L) civilian and military personnel programs, organizational management, space, facilities, supply management, security, information management, travel, budgeting, and training
 * Defense Procurement & Acquisition Policy Directorate - responsible for all acquisition and procurement policy matters in the Department, including serving as the principal advisor to the Under Secretary on acquisition/procurement strategies for all major weapon systems programs, major automated information systems programs, and services acquisitions
 * Joint Rapid Acquisition Cell - provides a single point of contact in the Office of the Secretary of Defense for tracking the timeliness of immediate warfighter need actions for the senior leadership and facilitating coordination with other government agencies
 * Defense Science Board - provides senior Department leadership independent advice and recommendations on scientific, technical, manufacturing, acquisition process, and other matters of special interest to the Department
 * Office of the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Manufacturing and Industrial Base Policy - responsible for ensuring that Department policies, procedures, and actions:
 * stimulate and support vigorous competition and innovation in the industrial base supporting defense
 * establish and sustain cost-effective industrial and technological capabilities that assure military readiness and superiority