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Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment

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The Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment, or USD (A&S), is the Principal Staff Assistant (PSA) and advisor to the Secretary of Defense for all matters relating to acquisition and sustainment in the Department of Defense. This includes the DoD Acquisition System; system design and development; production; logistics and distribution; installation maintenance, management, and resilience; military construction; procurement of goods and services; material readiness; maintenance; environment and energy resilience (including renewable energy); utilities; business management modernization; International Armaments Cooperation, Cooperative Acquisition and International Agreements, Promoting exportability of military components to allies and partners; nuclear, chemical and biological defense programs; and nuclear command, control, and communications.

Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment
Seal of the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment
Flag of an Under Secretary of Defense
Incumbent
William A. LaPlante
since 15 April 2022
Office of the Secretary of Defense
StyleMr. Under Secretary
Reports toSecretary of Defense
Deputy Secretary of Defense
AppointerThe President
with Senate advice and consent
Term lengthNo fixed term
Formation2018
Succession5th in SecDef succession
DeputyDeputy Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment
SalaryExecutive Schedule, Level III
Websitewww.acq.osd.mil

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.

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.

Overview

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The mission of the OUSD(A&S) is Enable the Delivery and Sustainment of Secure and Resilient Capabilities to the Warfighter and International Partners Quickly and Cost Effectively.[1]

The Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment (OUSD(A&S)) is focused on forming an acquisition system that moves at the speed of relevance, and to do that, has been shaped into an organization that provides a defense-wide adaptive acquisition framework from need identification to disposal. Using data-driven analysis linked with the National Defense Strategy, OUSD(A&S) scales to enable new product and process development and supports a culture of innovation, critical thinking, and creative compliance. There are multiple organizations that fall under OUSD(A&S) that also work towards this goal.[1]

The Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Acquisition (OASD(A)) [2] delivers capability at the point of need through a Defense Acquisition System that is flexible, tailorable, and enables speed. ASD(A) is focused on moving defense acquisition away from being expensive, slow, and burdensome by reducing timelines, lowering costs, and improving quality while rapidly introducing new technology to enhance capability.

The Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Sustainment (OASD(Sustainment)) [3] works with logistics and materiel readiness in the Department of Defense (DoD) and is the principal logistics official within the senior management of the DoD. In this capacity, the ASD(S) prescribes policies and procedures for the conduct of logistics, maintenance, materiel readiness, strategic mobility, and sustainment support in the DoD, to include, supply, maintenance, and transportation.

The Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Nuclear, Chemical & Biological Defense Programs (OASD(CNB)) [4] leads DoD efforts in preparing for, deterring, and mitigating current and future weapons of mass destruction (WMD) threats. They aim to sustain and modernize the U.S. nuclear deterrent; develop capabilities to detect, protect against and respond to WMD threats; ensure DoD compliance with nuclear, chemical, and biological treaties and agreements; continue to work with allies and partners to strengthen our collective countering weapons of mass destruction (CWMD) capabilities; and advance the United States nonproliferation goals.

The Industrial Policy [5] office supports the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment by providing detailed analyses and in-depth understanding of the increasingly global, commercial, and financially complex industrial supply chain essential to our national defense.

The Executive Director for Special Access Program Central Office [6] facilitates and maintains MOAs and memorandums of understanding for foreign involvement with DoD SAPs and coordinates with appropriate oversight authorities.

International Cooperation (IC) [7] Office is to strengthen key international partnerships through cooperative Acquisition & Sustainment initiatives to improve interoperability and sharpen the warfighter’s technological edge. IC prioritizes enabling a lethal, secure, and networked constellation of allies and partners.

History

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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.[8]

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.[9][10]

Organization

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Office of the Under Secretary

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The Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment (OUSD(A&S)), 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(A&S) 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(A&S) 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(A&S) 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 Industrial 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

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Under Secretary

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Portrait Name Tenure SecDef(s) Served Under President(s) Served Under
Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition
 
 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 June 1991 (Acting)
20 June 1991 – 20 January 1993		 Richard B. Cheney George H. W. Bush
Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Technology
 
 John M. Deutch 2 April 1993 – 11 March 1994 Leslie Aspin, Jr.
William J. Perry		 Bill Clinton
 
 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 10 November 1997 – 5 January 2001 William S. Cohen Bill Clinton
 
 Edward C. Aldridge, Jr. 10 May 2001 – 23 May 2003 Donald H. Rumsfeld George W. Bush
 
 Michael W. Wynne (Acting) 23 May 2003 – 6 June 2005 Donald H. Rumsfeld George W. Bush
 
 Kenneth J. Krieg[11] 6 June 2005[12] – 20 July 2007[13] Donald H. Rumsfeld
Robert M. Gates		 George W. Bush
 
 John J. Young, Jr.[14][15] 20 July 2007 – 21 November 2007 (Acting)
21 November 2007 – 27 April 2009		 Robert M. Gates George W. Bush
Barack Obama
 
 Ashton Carter[16] 27 April 2009 – 5 October 2011 Robert M. Gates
Leon Panetta		 Barack Obama
 
 Frank Kendall III[16] 6 October 2011 – 20 January 2017 Leon Panetta
Chuck Hagel
Ash Carter		 Barack Obama
 
 Jimmy MacStravic[17] 20 January 2017 – 7 August 2017 (Performing the Duties of) James Mattis Donald Trump
 
 Ellen Lord 7 August 2017 – 1 February 2018 James Mattis Donald Trump
Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment
 
 Ellen Lord[18] 1 February 2018 – 20 January 2021
Donald Trump
 
 Stacy Cummings[19] 20 January 2021 – 2 August 2021[20]

(Performing the Duties of)

David L. Norquist (acting)
Lloyd Austin 		Joe Biden
 
 Gregory M. Kausner[21] 2 August 2021[20] – 7 February 2022

(Performing the Duties of)

Lloyd Austin Joe Biden
 
 Andrew P. Hunter 7 February 2022[22] – 15 April 2022

(Performing the Duties of)

Lloyd Austin Joe Biden
 
 William A. LaPlante 15 April 2022[23] – present Lloyd Austin Joe Biden

Deputy Under Secretary

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Principal Deputy Under Secretaries of Defense for Acquisition, Technology and Logistics[8]
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

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References

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  This article incorporates public domain material from Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology and Logistics. United States Department of Defense.

  1. ^ a b Joe Gould Defense News (11 Sep 2022) Where do you buy a quarter-million artillery rounds? | Defense News Conference 2022 7:13 Purchase of 250,000 rounds of 155mm howitzer shells, with immediate delivery to DoD
  2. ^ "OUSD A&S - Assistant Secretary of Defense for Acquisition". www.acq.osd.mil. Retrieved 8 April 2021.
  3. ^ "Welcome to OASD(Sustainment)". www.acq.osd.mil. Retrieved 8 April 2021.
  4. ^ "OASD(NCB)". www.acq.osd.mil. Retrieved 8 April 2021.
  5. ^ "Home". www.businessdefense.gov. Retrieved 8 April 2021.
  6. ^ "Office of the Executive Director for Special Access Program Central Office". www.acq.osd.mil. Retrieved 8 April 2021.
  7. ^ "OUSD A&S - International Cooperation". www.acq.osd.mil. Retrieved 8 April 2021.
  8. ^ a b "Department of Defense Key Officials" (PDF). Historical Office, OSD. 2004. Archived from the original (PDF) on 21 July 2011. Retrieved 1 February 2011.
  9. ^ Mehta, Aaron (2 February 2018). "The Pentagon's acquisition office is gone. Here's what the next 120 days bring". Defense News. Retrieved 22 February 2018.
  10. ^ "Report to Congress: Restructuring the Department of Defense Acquisition, Technology and Logistics Organization and Chief Management Officer Organization" (PDF). 1 August 2017. Retrieved 22 February 2018.
  11. ^ "Ken Krieg - Former Under Secretary of Defense (AT&L)". Archived from the original on 29 June 2011. Retrieved 8 February 2011.
  12. ^ "Release". www.defense.gov.
  13. ^ "Pentagon's acquisition chief resigns". USA Today. 6 June 2007.
  14. ^ "Young, John J. - Former USD (AT&L)". Archived from the original on 29 February 2012. Retrieved 8 February 2011.
  15. ^ "DoD News: DoD Names Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology and Logistics". www.globalsecurity.org.
  16. ^ a b "Biographies". U.S. Department of Defense.
  17. ^ Beny, Alan. "OUSD(AT&L) > About AT&L > Leadership > Biography of Frank Kendall, USD(AT&L)". www.acq.osd.mil. Retrieved 27 February 2017.
  18. ^ "Ellen M. Lord > U.S. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE > Biography". www.defense.gov. Retrieved 15 July 2020.
  19. ^ McLeary, Paul; O'Brien, Connor (16 July 2021). "Top Pentagon weapons office faces vacancies as the military rushes to focus on China". POLITICO. Retrieved 16 July 2021.
  20. ^ a b Dille, Grace (4 August 2021). "DoD Names Kausner Head of Acquisition". Retrieved 8 February 2021.
  21. ^ "Gregory M. Kausner". www.acq.osd.mil. Archived from the original on 8 February 2022. Retrieved 8 February 2022.
  22. ^ "Acquisition and Sustainment Leadership Transition". U.S. Department of Defense. 7 February 2022. Retrieved 8 February 2021.
  23. ^ "Acquisition and Sustainment Leadership Transition". U.S. Department of Defense. 15 February 2022. Retrieved 16 February 2021.
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