Introduction

Important Note
Beginning with the December 2008 DSAM, 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 and- instruction)-, and the Defense Acquisiton Guidebook.
• Defense acquisition and reform and initiatives.
• Defense acquisition procedures and processes.
• The Planning, Programming, Budgeting, and Execution process, and the Congressional budget process.
• The relationship between capability 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.

Class Schedule
The following overall class schedule is provided for your planning. A detailed schedule will be provided in the classroom.

Monday - Friday, September 21-25, 2009

• 7:00 AM-8:00 AM (Registration Monday only) & Continental Breakfast
• 8:00 AM-12:00 PM Classroom instruction
• 12:00 PM-1:30 PM Lunch - On Your Own
• 1:30 PM-5:00 PM Classroom instruction (Course is complete by Noon on Friday) and there is a hosted reception on Monday evening only.
  

Target Audience
Industry program managers, assistant program mangers, 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 that 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 04-06 and GS-13-15, tuition free. Government students should already be certified at Level II to obtain maximum benefit from this course. Government employees and supervisors may apply the DSAM course towards fulfillment of the DoD requirement for acquisition workforce personnel to earn 80 continuous learning (CL) points every two years. DSAM counts for 34 CL points, or 3.4 Continuous Education Units (CEU).

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 player - the program management processes (Defense Acquisition Board review system and the Planning, 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 current DoD 5000 series (directive and instruction) and the Defense Acquisition guidebook).

Challenges to Program Management
This block covers several diverse subjects that are critical to the 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 determine a program acquisition strategy and prepare a prelimary program schedule to carry an acquisition program through its entire life cycle.

Course Facilitator
Defense Acquisition University (DAU) - Ms. Karen Byrd, Professor of Systems Acquisition Management, Karen.Byrd@dau.mil

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 programs and requirements and, through guided student interaction and team exercises, applies them to the realities of industry operations. In order for you to gain maximum benefit from this course and for others to gain from your perspectives and experience, all students are expected to fully participate in all scheduled course activities. Departure times should be based upon course completion at 12:00 Noon on Friday. Please plan travel accordingly- Do not make flights before 2:00 pm on Friday.