AWARDS
CALL FOR NOMINATIONS: THE 2024 UNDER SECRETARY OF DEFENSE FOR ACQUISITION AND SUSTAINMENT (USD(A&S)) ACQUISITION AWARDS
Nominations for the 2024 USD(A&S) Acquisition Awards are being accepted through May 31, 2024. These are the most prestigious annual awards that DOD bestows for acquisition excellence, and by submitting a nomination, you can be sure your people and programs—and the Army—get the recognition they deserve.
The 2024 Army submission deadline is May 31, 2024. If you received the USD(A&S) memo with a late August suspense, please disregard it. As the official collection point for Army nominations, the Director, Acquisition Career Management (DACM) Office must compile, board and staff all Army nominations for endorsement by the Army Acquisition Executive (AAE) before the USD(A&S) submission deadline.
All submissions must be uploaded to the DACM virtual board, via https://asc.army.mil/web/acquisition-awards/. Because the virtual board is not CAC-enabled, each nominating POC will be asked to create an account and password before submitting nominations on behalf of their organization. If you have an existing account, you do not need to create a new one.
New in 2024*:
• There are two new Individual Award categories this year: Value Engineering and Acquisition Security.
• The Flexibility in Contracting Team and Individual Award is now the Flexibility in Acquisition Team Award. *This change was made to include the entire acquisition process and capture a greater population of the workforce.
Nominations are sought for five awards:
• The Defense Acquisition Workforce Individual Achievement Award.
• The Defense Acquisition Workforce Development Innovation Award.
• The David Packard Excellence in Acquisition Award.
• The Flexibility in Acquisition Team Award.
• The Software Innovation Team Award.
You are allowed one nomination per award category, which must be endorsed by the head of your organization.
Please ensure that completed nominations are sent through the proper command channels and reach the Army DACM Office by May 31, 2024. The submission instructions and forms are available at https://asc.army.mil/web/acquisition-awards/. If you have any questions, please contact Rachel Longarzo at rachel.m.longarzo.civ@army.mil.
CALL FOR NOMINATIONS – ARMY ACQUISITION HALL OF FAME
Nominations for the Army Acquisition Hall of Fame (HoF) are now being accepted through June 7, 2024.
The HoF award recognizes and honors former members of the Army Acquisition Workforce (AAW) who have made significant and enduring contributions in support of the Army Acquisition Community. By submitting a nomination, you have the opportunity to help preserve the legacy of the Acquisition Community and inspire a sense of heritage, honor and pride throughout the workforce.
As the official collection point for HoF nominations, the Army DACM Office will compile the nominations and submit them to a diverse, cross-functional selection committee. The strongest nominations will be staffed to the AAE for final decision.
Please ensure that completed nominations reach the Army DACM Office by June 7, 2024. For nomination information and submission instructions, go to https://asc.army.mil/web/hall-of-fame/. If you have any questions, please contact Rachel Longarzo at rachel.m.longarzo.civ@army.mil.
WHAT’S NEW
QUICK REFERENCE GUIDE
Did you know there’s a super-handy AAW Guide designed for you?
This quick reference guide provides helpful tips for planning and navigating your acquisition career: how to look up the Defense Acquisition Workforce Improvement Act (DAWIA) certification requirements for your primary Acquisition Functional Area and current position; request DAWIA certification; create an Individual Development Plan; request and earn Continuous Learning Points (CLPs); explore acquisition training, education and career development opportunities; and complete other important steps. You can access and download the guide at https://asc.army.mil/web/document/quick-reference-guide/.
OPPORTUNITIES
IDEAL OPENS ON MAY 22
Save the date for May 22: the Inspiring and Developing Excellence in Acquisition Leaders (IDEAL) program will begin accepting applications. IDEAL is a leader development program for new and emerging AAW supervisors at GS-12 and -13 (or broadband equivalent). It uses a competency-based approach focused on Army leadership competencies identified in Army Regulation 600-100, Army Profession and Leadership Policy. Standard across all Acquisition Functional Areas, those competencies are:
- Prepares self.
- Builds trust.
- Stewards the profession.
- Communicates.
- Develops others.
- Leads by example.
- Gets results.
- Creates a positive environment.
- Leads others.
- Extends influence.
Participants should possess clearly documented potential for supervisory or leadership positions. There will be one FY 2025 cohort, and it will meet in Huntsville, Alabama, for three week-long resident sessions held over a period of approximately four months. The IDEAL curriculum includes classroom instruction, engagement with senior leaders, a site visit and group activities. Between sessions, participants will return to their workplaces to use newly learned skills and put into practice the concepts and competencies they studied during the resident sessions. For additional details, go to https://asc.army.mil/web/career-development/programs/inspiring-and-developing-excellence-in-acquisition-leaders-ideal/.
CLOSING SOON: TWO NAVAL POSTGRADUATE SCHOOL MASTER’S DEGREE PROGRAMS
Applications will be accepted until May 13, 2024 for the following Naval Postgraduate School (NPS) master’s degree program opportunities:
- The NPS Systems and Program Management Non-Resident Master’s Degree Program (Cohort 722-251G).
- The NPS Systems Engineering Non-Resident Master’s Degree Program (Cohort 311-251G).
For program details and application information for the Systems and Program Management program, go to https://asc.army.mil/web/career-development/programs/naval-postgraduate-school-master-of-science-in-systems-and-program-management/.
For program details and application information for the Systems Engineering program, go to https://asc.army.mil/web/career-development/programs/naval-postgrad-ms-sys-eng/.
ACQUISITION FUNCTIONAL AREAS
NEW LIFE CYCLE LOGISTICS RESOURCE PAGE
The Army DACM Office recently launched a new Life Cycle Logistics (LCL) acquisition functional area webpage. Show your acquisition career who’s in charge with an expansive set of LCL-related information, tools and resources, including:
• Army Acquisition Functional Leader (AAFL) and Army Acquisition Functional Advisor (AAFA) biographies.
• LCL workforce demographics.
• DAWIA Certification Training Requirements for Foundational and Advanced levels.
• Defense Acquisition Workforce Position Category Description (PCD).
• Tier 2 Technical Competency Model.
• Fiscal year 2023 and 2024 continuous learning opportunities for LCL functional areas.
• LCL Credential opportunities.
• AAFL Recommended CLP Memorandum.
• LCL civilian career model.
• DOD Product Support Manager (PSM) Mandatory Training Requirement Memorandum.
• Implementation of PSM Position Requirements Descriptions.
We’ll continue to keep this page current and relevant, so please save this link to your favorite browser’s bookmarks: https://asc.army.mil/web/life-cycle-logistics/.
ACQUISITION FUNCTIONAL AREA TEST AND EVALUATION PROFESSIONALS
The Army DACM Office recently launched a new Test and Evaluation (T&E) acquisition functional area webpage at https://asc.army.mil/web/test-evaluation/. Dive in and explore a substantial offering of T&E information, tools and resources, such as:
- AAFL and AAFA biographies.
- T&E workforce demographics.
- Top five civilian occupational group metrics.
- DAWIA certification and grace period information.
- Defense Acquisition Workforce PCD.
- T&E Competency model.
- Recommended continuous learning opportunities.
- Fiscal year 2024 AAW standards Memorandum.
- T&E Civilian career model.
All other acquisition functional area webpages for the Defense Acquisition Workforce can be found at https://asc.army.mil/web/dacm-office/functional-areas/.
NEW ENGINEERING AND TECHNICAL MANAGEMENT (ETM) RESOURCE PAGE
The Army DACM Office also recently launched a new ETM acquisition functional area webpage.
Stay updated and equipped with this invaluable assortment of ETM information, tools and resources, such as:
• AAFL and AAFA biographies.
• Workforce demographics.
• Top five civilian occupational groups or functional areas.
• DAWIA certification grace periods and training requirements.
• Defense Acquisition Workforce PCD.
• Functional area core readiness competencies.
• Fiscal year 2024 AAW standards memo.
• Recommended continuous learning opportunities for the ETM functional area.
• Recommended credentials for the ETM acquisition functional area.
• Civilian ETM career model.
We’ll continue to keep this page current and relevant, so please save this link to your favorite browser’s bookmarks: https://asc.army.mil/web/etm/.
LEADERS BUILDING LEADERS SYMPOSIUM
The 4th Estate DACM Office is hosting its annual Leaders Building Leaders Symposium on May 7-9, 2024. This virtual event, via Teams, will bring together emerging leaders from across DOD, other federal government agencies, academia and industry to upskill the acquisition workforce on relevant defense topics. For more information and to view the agenda, go to https://4edacm.dau.edu/lbl.html.
TEDxDAU FLAGSHIP SUMMER EVENT
Join Defense Acquisition University’s (DAU) flagship event of the summer to learn about compelling ideas and insights centered around issues and events impacting DOD on June 5, from 9:00 a.m. to 2:45 p.m. EDT.
TEDxDAU is an opportunity to hear ideas and perspectives outside your own circles and consider new possibilities. The annual event is designed to inspire the Defense acquisition community to think about their world and their work through a different lens.
Throughout the day, nine speakers will share ideas related to the idea of taking point and operating in a constant state of readiness. As an official TEDx event, it will also include artistic elements to make it more impactful. A TEDx illustrator will create infographics of each talk in real time and bring together key points from each. Derek Stoner, a retired Green Beret, will share first-hand experiences of his service in the Army Special Forces through music.
Speakers:
- Alexis Bonnell, chief information officer, director of digital capabilities and artificial intelligence steward, U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory.
- Michael Campbell, assistant professor, Eisenhower School, National Defense University.
- Will Durant, president, Energetics Technology Center.
- Justin Fanelli, chief technology officer, U.S. Department of the Navy; Technical Director, Program Executive Office Digital and Enterprise Services.
- Philip Freidhoff, vice president, Human Centered Design.
- Padric Hall, data strategy director, U.S. Naval Forces Central Command.
- Robert Hogue, principal deputy assistant secretary of the Navy for manpower and reserve affairs.
- Jesse Levin, senior cultural chameleon, Tactivate.
- Gen. Michael McGinley, U.S. Air Force Reserve Command; director, GigEagle.
Co-Hosts:
- S. Navy Commander Evita Salles, professor, Dwight D. Eisenhower School for National Security and Resource Strategy.
- S. Air Force Maj. Chris Stephen, professor, DAU.
Leadership:
- Jim Woolsey, DAU president.
- Frank Kelley, TEDxDAU chairman and DAU vice president.
Anyone with a .mil, .gov or federal .edu email address can register. This session can be attended virtually or in person. Attendees can earn up to 8 CLPs for this event. Registration is now open at https://www.dau.edu/tedxdau.
COMING SOON
ACQUISITION TUITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (ATAP)
Get an early start on your ATAP application package: June 3 is the first day of the ATAP application window!
ATAP provides tuition assistance, including laboratory and technology fees, to eligible AAW professionals taking individual acquisition- or business-related college courses or pursuing an acquisition- or business-related bachelor’s or master’s degree. Eligible applicants who already have a master’s degree can now apply for a second master’s degree in a business, technical or acquisition-related discipline. For complete details, go to https://asc.army.mil/web/career-development/programs/acquisition-tuition-assistance-program.
NCOs: ADVANCED CIVIL SCHOOLING (ACS)
The ACS application window for fiscal year 2024 will be open from June 3, 2024 through Jan. 10, 2025. The program allows active-duty Army NCOs a chance to pursue advanced degrees in acquisition- or business-related disciplines at civilian universities on a full-time, fully funded basis. ACS also unlocks enhanced skills and acquisition experience through top-tier university programs. Reach out to your Proponent NCO Team to see if you are a good fit for this opportunity, and go to the ACS webpage to learn more about the application process and eligibility:
https://asc.army.mil/web/career-development/programs/nco-advanced-civil-schooling/.
