Introduction

Important Note

All course materials will be provided to students on CD ROM.  It is highly recommended that you bring a laptop computer with you to the class.  If you do not have access to a laptop, please contact the respective meeting planner as soon as possible.  There will be a limited number of laptops available for use through NDIA, so please call early.

Overview

The Defense Systems Acquisition Management course meets the needs of defense industry acquisition managers in today’s dynamic environment, providing the latest information related to:

• Defense acquisition policy for weapons and information technology systems including
   discussion of the DoD 5000 series (directive, instruction, and guidebook).

• Defense acquisition, reform, and initiatives.

• Defense acquisition procedures and processes.

• The Planning, Programming, Budgeting, and Execution process; and the Congressional
   budget process.

• The relationship between capabilities needs determination, resource allocation, science
   and technology activities, and acquisition programs.

Taught by the Defense Acquisition University (DAU), the course uses the same acquisition policy information provided to DoD students who attend DAU courses for formal acquisition certification.

Target Audience:  Industry program managers, assistant program managers, systems engineers, industry personnel serving on DoD Integrated Product Teams, and other personnel that must interface with DoD program offices involved in program development and execution.  The result of successful completion of this course is a comprehensive understanding of the environment and driving forces affecting your DoD counterparts.  The understanding will significantly increase your awareness and effectiveness in dealing with programmatic issues.  The course is also open to a limited number of DoD personnel in grades O4-O6 and GS 13-15, tuition free.  Government students should already be certified at Defense Workforce Improvement Act (DAWIA) Level II in program management or other functional area.  Government employees and supervisors may apply the DSAM course towards fulfillment of the statutory requirement for federal acquisition workforce personnel to earn 80 continuous learning (CL) points every two years.  DSAM contributes 34 CL points, or 3.4 Continuous Education Units (CEU) toward this requirement.
 
Course of Instruction

Management in the acquisition Environment

The first block of instruction will identify the major participants in the DoD acquisition process and their roles.  It will cover such areas as the responsibilities and perspectives of the major players – the program management processes (Defense Acquisition Board review system and the Programming, Budgeting, and Execution process) – to review and control acquisition at the DoD level.

Acquisition Life Cycle Process

This block will focus on the objectives, responsibilities, activities, interrelationships, and concerns of each phase of the weapon system acquisition life cycle.  This includes research and development, program initiation, and the transition from development to production.  Instruction will cover the DoD 5000 series (directive, instruction, and guidebook).

Challenges to Program Management

This block covers several diverse subjects that are critical to success of the DoD program manager.  A highlight of this section is a case study based upon a real-world acquisition program.

Application of Acquisition Procedures

This portion of instruction covers the specific application of the acquisition procedures by the military services and the management issues currently facing the DoD program manager.  The course will end with a detailed case study where participants develop an acquisition strategy to carry an acquisition program through its entire life cycle.

Faculty

Defense Acquisition University

Mr. Brad Brown, Professor, Systems Acquisition Management; Learning Center Capabilities Integration Center Director for Acquisition and Program Management; 30 years military/DoD civilian, 12 years industry; DAWIA Level III Program Management, Test & Evaluation, and Systems Planning, Research, Development, and Engineering.

Ms. Karen Byrd, Professor, Systems Acquisition Management; Learning Center Capabilities Integration Center Learning Asset Program Manager; DSAM Course Manager; 22 years DoD civilian; DAWIA Level III Program Management and Contracting.

Mr. Chris Fry, Professor, Systems Acquisition Management; 21 years military, 7 years DoD civilian; DAWIA Level III Program Management, Level II Test & Evaluation.

Mr. Wayne Glass, Professor, Systems Acquisition Management; 24 years military, 9 years DoD civilian, 8 years industry; DAWIA Level III Program Management and Life Cycle Logistics.

Mr. Gary Hagan, Professor, Systems Acquisition Management, Course Manager, Program Management Office Course (PMT-352); 23 years military, 19 years civilian; DAWIA Level III Program Management, Systems Planning, Research, Development, and Engineering, and Life Cycle Logistics.

Mr. Mark Lumb, Professor, Systems Acquisition Management, Department Chair, Acquisition Program Management, DAU South; 20 years military, 7 years DoD civilian; DAWIA Level III Program Management, Level II in Test & Evaluation, and Systems Planning, Research, Development, and Engineering.

Class Size

Plan ahead!  The class is limited to 42 students, and registrations are accepted on a first paid, first served basis.

Attendance

This intense 4-1/2 day seminar presents current government acquisition statutes, policy, and regulations and, through facilitated discussion and team exercises, applies them to the realities of DoD and industry interaction and operations.  In order for you to gain maximum benefit and successfully complete the course as well as contribute your perspectives and experience to enhance the learning of your fellow students, everyone is expected to fully participate in all scheduled course activities.  Departure times must be based upon course completion at 12:00 Noon on Friday.  Please plan your travel accordingly.

Inquiries

For further information, please contact Michelle Hariston at (703) 24709478 or e-mail to mhariston@ndia.org.  Government students, please contact Ms. Karen Byrd at (703) 805-5411 or e-mail to karen.byrd@dau.mil.