Unlock Collaborative Leadership: FY27 Seats Open for Program Manager’s Cross-Functional Training (CFT 4010)

by John Kelly

The Warfighting Acquisition University (WarU) is pleased to announce enrollment opportunities for the fiscal year 2027 (FY27) offerings of CFT 4010, the Program Manager’s Cross-Functional Training course. Conducted in-person at Fort Belvoir, Virginia, and Redstone Arsenal, Alabama, this premier seven-week course is specifically engineered to foster a high-participation and group-focused collaborative learning environment. By bringing together senior program managers and diverse acquisition experts, CFT 4010 goes beyond standard coursework to emphasize real-world dilemma resolution, immersive simulations and peer-to-peer decision-making. Participants will not only sharpen their leadership, critical thinking and problem-solving capabilities but will also build invaluable professional networks.

To cultivate a true cross-functional learning atmosphere, WarU has reserved dedicated student seats for non-Program Management (non-PM) functional leaders who serve as peers to senior program managers. Please note that CFT 4010 and PMT 4010 are the exact same course; the key difference is that WarU is specifically looking for individuals who are not in PM coded positions to fill these dedicated seats. Qualified candidates must be certified at the highest level of their respective functional area and currently hold, or be slated to enter, a position of significant authority, responsibility and accountability. This opportunity is specifically targeted at GS-14 or GS-15 (or broadband equivalent) Army Acquisition Workforce civilians and O-5/6 acquisition officers. Eligible functional areas include Contracting, Engineering and Technical Management, Test and Evaluation, Life Cycle Logistics, Business-Financial Management and Business -Cost Estimating, ensuring all facets of the acquisition life cycle are represented.

The course has transitioned permanently to a full seven-week curriculum based on the overwhelming success of previous cohorts. For FY27, several offerings have been scheduled with dedicated non-PM seats across both campus locations:

• Class 001: 11 Jan – 26 Feb (Fort Belvoir).
• Class 002: 29 Mar – 14 May (Fort Belvoir).
• Class 003: 5 Apr – 21 May (Redstone Arsenal).
• Class 004: 14 June – 30 July (Fort Belvoir).
• Class 005: 12 July – 27 Aug (Redstone Arsenal).
• Class 006: 30 Aug – 15 Oct (Fort Belvoir if needed).

Note that Class 201 is designated for the Senior Service College Fellowship (SSCF) and is already structured as a cross-functional offering.

To apply, interested candidates must submit an application via AITAS (https://www.atrrs.army.mil/Aitas/Public/Landing/). Once enrollment is officially secured, both the student and their supervisor will receive a notification confirming their placement from AITAS.

For more information on the curriculum and prerequisites, visit the official WarU CFT-4010 Program.

JOHN KELLY is a strategy and training analyst with the Army Director, Career Management Office. He holds an MBA with a focus in technology management from the University of Phoenix, and a B.A. in English from George Mason University. He is a DAWIA Certified Practitioner in program management and Foundational in engineering and technical management.