ACQUISITION EDUCATION, TRAINING AND CAREER DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES
ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS – FY23 CENTRALIZED SELECTION LIST LTC/GS-14 AND COL/GS-15
The Director of Acquisition Career Management (DACM) Office is pleased to announce the fiscal year 2023 Centralized Selection List (CSL) open announcement for GS-13 through GS-15 (or payband equivalent) as follows:
• LTC/GS-14 Product Manager: Application window opens on April 28 and closes on June 10, 2021.
• COL/GS-15 Project Manager: Application window opens on June 3 and closes on July 15, 2021.
The CSL is the Chief of Staff of the Army’s process, during which board members select acquisition officers and civilians to lead Acquisition Category (ACAT) I, II and III weapon systems programs and run major contracts as well as test and evaluation efforts. Slating of CSL principals into CSL positions is an Army Acquisition Executive responsibility. ACAT II and III acquisition key billet positions are identified as critical acquisition positions and typically have a tenure of three years. ACAT I key billet positions are identified as key leadership positions and have a four-year tenure or that closest to a major program milestone decision (based on Title 10, Chapter 87 of the Defense Acquisition Workforce Improvement Act (DAWIA)). Selected applicants may be invited to attend the U.S. Army’s Command Assessment Program at Fort Knox, Kentucky, in September 2021. Additional details on the positions, eligibility and application instructions will be posted on our CSL landing page.
INSPIRING AND DEVELOPING EXCELLENCE IN ACQUISITION LEADERS FY22 ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS
The Inspiring and Developing Excellence in Acquisition Leaders (IDEAL) program for fiscal year 2022 will be open for applications May 4 through July 29, 2021. This program targets current and future supervisors who are seeking to refine their leadership skills or develop them in preparation for a supervisory or leadership position. Applicants must be permanent tenure civilian Army Acquisition Workforce (AAW) members, GS-12 or GS-13 (or broadband equivalent) and meet DAWIA certification requirements. More details and application instructions can be found on our IDEAL program landing page.
FY22 DEFENSE CIVILIAN EMERGING LEADER PROGRAM – ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS
The Defense Civilian Emerging Leader Program (DCELP) for fiscal year 2022, Cohort 14, is now open for applications. The program develops emerging leaders at GS-07 through GS-12 and broadband equivalent levels. DCELP combines community-based learning, guest speakers, group projects, coaching and other activities. Cohort 14 is a special fiscal year 2022 DCELP cohort for members of the DOD Acquisition Workforce. It will provide excellent opportunities for participants to network with other emerging leaders from across all of DOD. The application period closes on July 8, 2021. Learn more about DCELP here.
ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS – THE NPS MASTER OF SCIENCE IN SYSTEMS AND PROGRAM MANAGEMENT DEGREE PROGRAM
The DACM Office is pleased to announce the Naval Postgraduate School Master of Science in Systems and Program Management (NPS-MSSPM) (Cohort 722-221G) education opportunity. The DACM Office sponsors NPS-MSSPM and will fund the cost of tuition and books. No travel is involved. The NPS-MSSPM is a two-year program designed for DOD and other federal civilians to obtain an acquisition defense-focused advanced degree in a distance learning format. The NPS-MSSPM is an interdisciplinary program combining systems engineering with program management knowledge and skills. The program aims to broaden the technical capabilities of the acquisition workforce who may have non-technical backgrounds so they are able to successfully manage and lead programs or projects in support of the Defense Acquisition System.
Classes for Cohort 722-221G will commence the last week of September 2021 and end the last week of September 2023. Those eligible to apply are permanent GS-11 through GS-15 (or broadband equivalent) AAW civilians; this includes AAW employees from DOD laboratories designated as science and technology reinvention laboratories who meet both the NPS admissions and the DACM Office requirements in the announcement. Applications for consideration of funding are being accepted from April 1 through May 31, 2021. NPS applications for conditional letters of acceptance are being accepted from April 1 through May 31, 2021. View the NPS-MSSPM (722-221G) Announcement for instructions on how to submit an NPS-MSSPM application for consideration of funding.
ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS – THE NAVAL POSTGRADUATE SCHOOL MASTER OF SCIENCE IN SYSTEMS ENGINEERING NON-RESIDENT DEGREE PROGRAM WITH A SYSTEM OF SYSTEMS FOCUS (COHORT 311-221G) EDUCATION OPPORTUNITY
The DACM office is pleased to announce the NPS Master of Science in Systems Engineering (MSSE) Non-Resident Degree Program with a System of Systems Focus (Cohort 311-221G) education opportunity. The DACM Office sponsors the NPS-MSSE and will fund the cost of tuition and books. No travel is involved. The NPS-MSSE is a two-year program designed for civilians in DOD organizations faced with a wide range of systems engineering and integration challenges. NPS educates and trains engineers with tools and technologies relevant to their work. As a result, employees have greater knowledge and expertise to better meet the needs of their customers. Specific program educational objectives are provided in the actual program announcement.
Classes for Cohort 311-221G will commence the week of Sept. 28, 2021 and end the last week of Sept. 2023. Those eligible to apply are permanent GS-11 through GS-15 (or broadband/pay band equivalent) AAW civilians; this includes AAW employees from DOD laboratories designated as science and technology reinvention laboratories who meet both the NPS admissions and the DACM office requirements in the announcement. Applications for consideration of funding are being accepted from April 1 through May 31, 2021. NPS applications for conditional letters of acceptance are being accepted from April 1 through May 31, 2021. View the NPS-MSSE (311-221G) Announcement for instructions on submitting an application for consideration of funding.
CLOSING SOON – THE SENIOR ENTERPRISE TALENT MANAGEMENT AND ENTERPRISE TALENT MANAGEMENT PROGRAMS
Now through May 15, the Senior Enterprise Talent Management (SETM) and Enterprise Talent Management (ETM) programs are open for applications. These Army talent management programs produce senior civilian leaders with an enterprise perspective and the potential to serve in positions of increasing levels of responsibility. A variety of exceptional professional development, senior-leader educational and experiential learning opportunities are available for eligible candidates at GS-12 through GS-15 (and equivalent pay bands). More details can be found here.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
CALL FOR NOMINATIONS – OFFICE OF THE UNDER SECRETARY OF DEFENSE FOR ACQUISITION AND SUSTAINMENT AWARDS
The nomination window is closing soon for the annual Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment (USD A&S) awards. These awards recognize DOD acquisition programs and their teams that have demonstrated exemplary acquisition excellence, innovation and reform. All nominations must be submitted by May 10, 2021 via the Army Acquisition Awards webpage. For tips on how to write an award narrative, check out this article.
DEFENSE ACQUISITION UNIVERSITY
FY21 DEFENSE ACQUISITION UNIVERSITY TRAINING
Any Defense Acquisition University (DAU) training that was originally scheduled as classroom instructor-led training is being converted to virtual instructor-led training. All students who are registered or waitlisted for an in-person class will be notified of their class conversion via email.
DAU COURSE AVAILABILITY
The Army DACM Office is aware that some members of our acquisition workforce are unable to complete their DAWIA certification requirements due to DAU course cancellations and limited seat availability. Our office is monitoring the situation to ensure that our workforce is not disadvantaged. As Back-to-Basics details become available, we will communicate those to our stakeholder network and to the workforce.
ARMY INTERNET TRAINING APPLICATION SYSTEM MODERNIZATION
The Army Internet Training Application System (AITAS) is in the testing phase of a modernization effort. AITAS 2.0 will go “live” on May 10, 2021. Starting on that date, when students log in to register for instructor-led training or virtual instructor-led training, they will be directed to the new website. AITAS 2.0 will have a new look and feel. More detailed information about AITAS 2.0 will be sent out to Acquisition Training Officers and Organizational Acquisition Points of Contact just prior deployment, so that they can communicate the change to their workforce.
