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The new structure for the Pentagon’s tech and acquisition offices

Pentagon leaders, already worried about the emerging technologies that will shape the next generation of war, have reorganized their leadership structure to emphasize quantum science, artificial intelligence and directed energy, Defense News has learned.

The new effort is a major restructuring for the two Pentagon offices that determine how the Department of Defense buys and develops weapon systems. Deputy Secretary of Defense Patrick Shanahan approved the changes in a July 13 memo, obtained by Defense News.

The 17-page document lays out the organizational charts for the offices of the Undersecretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment and the Undersecretary of Defense for Research and Engineering, as well their responsibilities. The two offices were created Feb. 1, when Congress required the former Acquisition, Technology and Logistics (AT&L) office to be divided. A potential organization chart was published in August, but the new document features significant changes, particularly on the R&E side.

The chart above shows the organization of the Undersecretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment. (click on image to enlarge)
The chart above shows the proposed organization of the Undersecretary of Defense for Research and Evaluation. (click to enlarge)

Keep reading this article at: https://www.defensenews.com/pentagon/2018/07/17/revealed-the-new-structure-for-the-pentagons-tech-and-acquisition-offices

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The Pentagon’s acquisition office is gone — here’s what the next 120 days bring

The Pentagon’s acquisition system has officially been split in two. Now comes the hard part.

On Feb. 1, workers who report to the undersecretary of defense for acquisition, technology and logistics (AT&L) have a new boss. Per Congressional requirements, the office has been split into two new groups – the undersecretaries of defense for research and engineering (R&E) and acquisition and sustainment (A&S).

But for the next three months, not much should really change, said final AT&L head, and first A&S head, Ellen Lord.

Speaking to reporters on Jan. 31, Lord explained that there will be a 120-day working period between Feb. 1 and when the major changes to the structure will begin to hit, saying “we are building a prototype and then are experimenting a little bit around the edges with this.”

Partly, this is a logistical matter. It takes just under 120 days to set up new offices — with their internal codes, required for things like logging into computers or HR benefits —inside the building, and with 98 individual offices, switching everyone over on day one would have resulted in total logistical gridlock.

Keep reading this article at: https://www.defensenews.com/pentagon/2018/02/01/the-pentagons-acquisition-office-is-gone-heres-what-the-next-120-days-bring/

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AT&L reorganization will take two years to complete

The Pentagon plans to take two years to complete the reorganization of its acquisition, technology and logistics office, in order to avoid missteps as it creates two new replacement organizations.

Talking to reporters on the sidelines of the Reagan National Defense Forum, Ellen Lord, the final undersecretary for AT&L, described the plan as a phased process, which will include quarterly progress reports and feature at least some jobs that report to both the undersecretary of defense for acquisition and sustainment, and the undersecretary of defense for research and engineering.

“We are looking at structurally setting up the split so that there are some bridging positions where there will be certain individuals who report into both the under for A&S and the under for R&E, to be able to make sure we have continuity,” Lord said Dec. 2.

Keep reading this article at: https://www.defensenews.com/digital-show-dailies/reagan-defense-forum/2017/12/03/atampl-reorganization-will-take-two-years-to-complete/

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Key federal acquisition posts filled

Nine individuals have been appointed by President Trump to fill key acquisition positions. 

President Donald Trump appointed nine individuals to acquisition executive positions, including eight appointments to the General Services Administration (GSA) and one at the Department of Defense (DoD).

See details here: http://www.federaltimes.com/articles/trump-fills-9-key-acquisition-posts

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Pentagon delivers interim AT&L memo to Congress

The Department of Defense (DoD) is looking at a greater realignment of the roles held by the undersecretary of defense for acquisitions, technology and logistics, or AT&L, than is required by Congress, and the agency hopes to craft a chief management officer position to handle department-wide business processes, according to a memo obtained by Defense News.

The two-page memo, written by Deputy Secretary of Defense Bob Work and sent to the heads of the House and Senate Armed Services committees and those that cover defense appropriations on March 1, lays out the basics of an interim report now sitting with Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis.

The 2017 National Defense Authorization Act instructed the Pentagon to devolve AT&L into two separate offices, undersecretary for acquisition and sustainment, or A&S, and a new undersecretary for research and engineering, or R&E, essentially a chief technology officer. Those changes are supposed to be in place by Feb. 1, 2018.

In addition, the NDAA asks for an understanding of how a chief management officer, or CMO, position could be created.

Keep reading this article at: http://www.defensenews.com/articles/pentagon-delivers-interim-at-l-memo-to-congress

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