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Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment
US Under Secretary of Defense flag
Ellen Lord official photo (cropped)
Incumbent
Ellen Lord
since 1 February 2018
Office of the Secretary of Defense
Madam Under Secretary
The Honorable
(formal address in writing)
Reports to Secretary of Defense
Deputy Secretary of Defense
Appointer The President
with the advice and consent of the Senate
Term length No fixed term
Formation 2018
Succession 5th in SecDef succession
Deputy The Principal Deputy Under Secretary
Salary Level III of the Executive Schedule
Website www.acq.osd.mil

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.[1]

Overview[]

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The factual accuracy of this article may be compromised due to out-of-date information


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.[2]

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.[1][3]

Organization[]

Officials reporting to the USD(A&S) include:[1][3]

Office of the Under Secretary[]

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The factual accuracy of this article may be compromised due to out-of-date information


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

Office holders[]

Under Secretaries of Defense for Acquisition, Technology, and Logistics[2]
Portrait Name Tenure SecDef(s) Served Under President(s) Served Under
Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition
Richard P Godwin thumbnail Richard P. Godwin 30 September 1986 – 30 September 1987 Caspar W. Weinberger Ronald Reagan
Robert B. Costello 18 December 1987 – 12 May 1989 Frank C. Carlucci III
William Howard Taft IV (Acting)
Richard B. Cheney
Ronald Reagan
George H. W. Bush
John A. Betti 11 August 1989 – 31 December 1990 Richard B. Cheney George H. W. Bush
Donald J. Yockey 1 January 1991 – 20 January 1991 (Acting)
20 June 1991 – 20 January 1993
Richard B. Cheney George H. W. Bush
Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Technology
John Deutch, Undersecretary of Defense, 1993 official photo John M. Deutch 2 April 1993 – 11 March 1994 Leslie Aspin, Jr.
William J. Perry
Bill Clinton
Paul G Kaminski from National Medal of Technology winners Paul G. Kaminski 3 October 1994 – 16 May 1997 William J. Perry
William S. Cohen
Bill Clinton
Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology, and Logistics
Jacques S. Gansler, Under Secretary of Defense (Acquisition, Technology & Logistics), official portrait Jacques S. Gansler 10 November 1997 – 5 January 2001 William S. Cohen Bill Clinton
Edward C. Aldridge, Jr. Edward C. Aldridge, Jr. 10 May 2001 – 23 May 2003 Donald H. Rumsfeld George W. Bush
Michael Wynne, official portrait Michael W. Wynne (Acting) 23 May 2003 - June 2005 Donald H. Rumsfeld George W. Bush
Ken Krieg, Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology and Logistics, official portrait Kenneth J. Krieg[4] 6 June 2005[5] - 20 July 2007[6] Donald H. Rumsfeld
Robert M. Gates
George W. Bush
John J. Young, Jr. John J. Young, Jr.[7][8] July 2007 - 21 November 2007 (Acting)
21 November 2007 – 27 April 2009
Robert M. Gates George W. Bush
Barack Obama
Ashton Carter DOD photo Ashton Carter[9] 27 April 2009 – 5 October 2011 Robert M. Gates
Leon Panetta
Barack Obama
Frank Kendall DOD photo Frank Kendall III[10] 6 October 2011 – 20 January 2017 Leon Panetta
Chuck Hagel
Ash Carter
Barack Obama
Official Photo of James MacStravic
Jimmy MacStravic[11] 20 January 2017 – 7 August 2017 (Performing the Duties of) James Mattis Donald Trump
Ellen Lord official photo (cropped) Ellen Lord 7 August 2017 – 1 February 2018 James Mattis Donald Trump
Principal Deputy Under Secretaries of Defense for Acquisition, Technology and Logistics[2]
Name Tenure USD(s) Served Under SecDef(s) Served Under President(s) Served Under
Milton Lohr 3 October 1988 – 12 May 1989 Robert B. Costello Richard B. Cheney George H.W. Bush
Donald J. Yockey 12 March 1990 – 20 January 1991 John A. Betti Richard B. Cheney George H.W. Bush
Donald C. Fraser 4 December 1991 – 13 January 1993 Donald J. Yockey Richard B. Cheney George H.W. Bush
Noel Longuemare, Jr. 18 November 1993 – 21 November 1997 John M. Deutch
Paul G. Kaminski
Jacques S. Gansler
Leslie Aspin, Jr.
William J. Perry
William S. Cohen
Bill Clinton
David Oliver 1 June 1998 – 14 July 2001 Jacques S. Gansler
Edward C. Aldridge, Jr.
William S. Cohen
Donald H. Rumsfeld
Bill Clinton
George W. Bush
Michael W. Wynne 17 July 2001 - 2005 Edward C. Aldridge, Jr. Donald H. Rumsfeld George W. Bush
Frank Kendall III 8 March 2010 – 5 October 2011 Ashton Carter Robert M. Gates
Leon Panetta
Barack Obama
Alan Estevez 6 October 2011 – 20 January 2017 Frank Kendall III Leon Panetta
Chuck Hagel
Ash Carter
Barack Obama
Vacant 20 January 2017 – 1 February 2018 Ellen Lord James Mattis Donald Trump

See also[]

  • The Technical Cooperation Program (TTCP) - An international defense science and technology collaboration between Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and the United States.

References[]

PD-icon This article incorporates public domain material from the United States Government document "Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology and Logistics Department of Defense".

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 Mehta, Aaron (2 February 2018). "The Pentagon’s acquisition office is gone. Here’s what the next 120 days bring." (in en-US). Defense News. https://www.defensenews.com/pentagon/2018/02/01/the-pentagons-acquisition-office-is-gone-heres-what-the-next-120-days-bring/. 
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 "Department of Defense Key Officials". Historical Office, OSD. 2004. Archived from the original on 21 July 2011. https://web.archive.org/web/20110721034250/http://osdhistory.defense.gov/docs/DOD%20Key%20Officials%201947-2004.pdf. Retrieved 1 February 2011. 
  3. 3.0 3.1 "Report to Congress: Restructuring the Department of Defense Acquisition, Technology and Logistics Organization and Chief Management Officer Organization". 1 August 2017. https://www.acq.osd.mil/fo/docs/Section-901-FY-2017-NDAA-Report.pdf. 
  4. https://acc.dau.mil/CommunityBrowser.aspx?id=24690
  5. http://www.defense.gov/releases/release.aspx?releaseid=8557
  6. "Pentagon's acquisition chief resigns". USA Today. 6 June 2007. https://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2007-06-06-pentagon-resignation_N.htm?csp=34. 
  7. https://acc.dau.mil/CommunityBrowser.aspx?id=167951
  8. http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/library/news/2007/11/mil-071121-dod01.htm
  9. http://www.defense.gov/bios/biographydetail.aspx?biographyid=186
  10. http://www.defense.gov/bios/biographydetail.aspx?biographyid=248
  11. Beny, Alan. "OUSD(AT&L) > About AT&L > Leadership > Biography of Frank Kendall, USD(AT&L)" (in en). http://www.acq.osd.mil/bio_macstravic.html. 

External links[]

All or a portion of this article consists of text from Wikipedia, and is therefore Creative Commons Licensed under GFDL.
The original article can be found at Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment and the edit history here.
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