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Assistant Secretary of Defense for Acquisition

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Assistant Secretary of Defense for Acquisition
Emblem of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Sustainment
Flag of an Assistant Secretary of Defense
Incumbent
Gary A. Ashworth (acting)
since 29 May 2024
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
Formation1 October 2011
Succession16th in SecDef succession
DeputyJohn M. Tenaglia
SalaryLevel IV of the Executive Schedule
Websitewww.acq.osd.mil/asda

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.[1] 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.[2]

Roles & responsibilities

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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.[1]

Organization

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The Assistant Secretary of Defense for Acquisition has the following people reporting to them:[3]

  • 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

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No. Assistant Secretary[4] Term SecDef(s) Served Under President(s) Served Under Ref(s)
Portrait Name Took office Left office Term length
–
Katrina G. McFarland
Katrina G. McFarland
Acting		1 October 201124 May 2012236 daysLeon PanettaBarack Obama[5]
1
Katrina G. McFarland
Katrina G. McFarland24 May 201220 January 20174 years, 241 daysLeon Panetta
Chuck Hagel
Ash Carter		Barack Obama[6]
–
Dyke D. Weatherington
Dyke D. Weatherington
Acting		20 January 201714 December 2017328 daysJim MattisDonald Trump 
–
James A. MacStravic
James A. MacStravic
Acting		14 December 201718 February 201866 daysJim MattisDonald Trump 
2
Kevin M. Fahey
Kevin M. Fahey18 February 201820 January 20212 years, 337 daysJim Mattis
Mark Esper		Donald Trump[7]
–
Dyke D. Weatherington
Dyke D. Weatherington
Acting		20 January 202130 June 2021161 daysLloyd AustinJoe Biden[2][8]
–
Christopher C. O'Donnell
Christopher C. O'Donnell
Acting		1 July 202115 March 2022257 daysLloyd AustinJoe Biden[9]
–
Tanya M. Skeen
Tanya M. Skeen
Acting		~3 March 202215 August 2023~1 year, 165 daysLloyd AustinJoe Biden[10][11]
–
Gary A. Ashworth
Gary A. Ashworth
Acting		15 August 20235 March 2024203 daysLloyd AustinJoe Biden[12][13]
3
Cara L. Abercrombie
Cara L. Abercrombie5 March 202429 May 202485 daysLloyd AustinJoe Biden[14]
–
Gary A. Ashworth
Gary A. Ashworth
Acting		29 May 2024Incumbent146 daysLloyd AustinJoe Biden-

Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary

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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. Cummings
Stacy A. CummingsMarch 201920 January 2021~1 year, 311 daysMark EsperDonald Trump[15]
–
Christopher C. O'Donnell
Christopher C. O'Donnell
Acting		20 January 202130 June 2021161 daysLloyd AustinJoe Biden 
–
John M. Tenaglia
John M. Tenaglia
Acting		1 July 20213 March 2022245 daysLloyd AustinJoe Biden[9]
–
Christopher C. O'Donnell
Christopher C. O'Donnell
Acting		~3 March 202215 August 2023~1 year, 165 daysLloyd AustinJoe Biden 
–
John M. Tenaglia
John M. Tenaglia
Acting		15 August 20235 March 2024203 daysLloyd AustinJoe Biden[16]
2
Gary A. Ashworth
Gary A. Ashworth5 March 202429 May 202485 daysLloyd AustinJoe Biden[17]
–
John M. Tenaglia
John M. Tenaglia
Acting		29 May 2024Incumbent146 daysLloyd AustinJoe Biden[9]

References

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