ACQUISITION CHECKPOINT


managers in recent years’ defense autho- rization acts—other-transaction, mid-tier acquisition, Section 2373 authority (to purchase experimental supplies necessary for experimental or test purposes) and others—and management of human capi- tal to match the right talent to the right task at the right time.


Asked for his perspective on the new Adaptive Acquisition Framework that has evolved from new tools authorized by Congress, Austin replied in written testimony to the Senate Armed Services Committee that “the Adaptive Acquisi- tion Framework implements the following tenets: (a) Empower program managers (PMs); (b) Simplify acquisition policy; (c) Employ tailored acquisition approaches; (d) Conduct data driven analysis; (e) Actively manage risk; and (f) Empha- size product support and sustainment,” all objectives Austin pledged to support.


Furthermore, he stated that DOD needs to go further, taking advantage of rapid prototyping and expanded access to new partners in industry, to field new capabilities


faster and develop more


nontraditional partners with prospects for new defense capability. In particular, Austin told the Senate committee, “Acqui- sition of services and software remain challenging and implementing sound cybersecurity throughout the acquisi- tion system and the weapon systems it produces is a major need. … In imple- menting these important authorities, we must balance the absolute need to secure our systems with the impact to cost, schedule and performance in implement- ing these measures.”


Another top priority for Austin in acqui- sition is developing the acquisition workforce, he said. Tat includes tackling what he called the “technical and cultural challenge” of risk management—working


10 Army AL&T Magazine Spring 2021 AUSTIN TAKES THE HELM


Thomas Muir, director of Washington Headquarters Services at DOD, swears in Lloyd J. Austin III as secretary of defense at the Pentagon on Jan. 22. Holding the Bible is the junior military assistant to the secretary of defense, Marine Corps Lt. Col. Caleb Hyatt. (Photo by Lisa Ferdinando, Office of the Secretary of Defense Public Affairs)


SECDEF SPEAKS


Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III participates in a Black History Month virtual engagement on Feb. 26 with high school students from Fort Knox and Fort Campbell, Kentucky, high schools. (Photo by Lisa Ferdinando, Office of the Secretary of Defense Public Affairs)


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