Please note meeting will be held at the Tysons's Corner Crowne Plaza Sept. 10th at 6:30 pm.

The Defense Science Board Report on IT Acquisition Centered on Agile Processes, By Don Johnson

Sponsored by CC Pace & Excella Consulting

As defined in the March 2009 Report of the Defense Science Board (DSB) Task Force on Department of Defense (DoD) Policies and Procedures for the Acquisition of Information Technology, the fundamental problem DoD faces is the deliberate processes through which weapon systems and IT are acquired does not match the speed at which new IT capabilities are being introduced in today’s information age.  The DSB report highlighted that not only is an agile model more appropriate for IT programs, but it serves as a basis for changes to the larger acquisition model cross-cutting major weapon systems.  The Secretary of Defense has also echoed the call for change re DoD’s acquisition processes via the January 2009 article in Foreign Affairs where he characterized a growing number of platforms are growing even more “baroque.” 

With so many prior acquisition reform efforts to leverage, any novel approach for the acquisition of IT is unlikely to have meaningful impact without addressing barriers that prevented prior reform efforts from taking root.  The presentation will overview the Defense Science Board Report on IT Acquisition and solicit feedback from the audience on barriers that have (and perhaps continue) to prevent the Federal Government’s ability to better plan and acquire major IT capabilities.  

SPEAKER BIO:

As an advisor to the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense within the Office of Assistant Secretary of Defense for Networks and Information Integration (OASD(NII)), responsibility includes acquisition oversight of National Intelligence, Space and Information Technology programs.  Mr. Johnson has over twenty-five years experience across the spectrum of Department of Defense, Intelligence Community and private industry with previous responsibility spanning from system engineering, program management, test/evaluation to the client executive for a major line of business involving diverse clients within a 6,000-employee commercial Information Technology consultant.  He successfully delivered numerous Information Technology solutions in both the capacity of a Government Program Manager as well as the industry lead while employing modern Information Technology delivery models. 

Technical knowledge led to being handpicked to serve as the Government advisor for a Congressionally-directed Defense Science Board investigating improvements in the Department of Defense acquisition of information technology.  Recognized by winning multiple awards including Office of the Secretary of Defense Superior Management of the Year Award for crafting and successfully implementing an innovative acquisition involving mission-critical C-17 capabilities to satisfy a Combat Mission Need provide safe landing operations in Eastern Europe.  Also, initiated Cooperative Research and Development Agreements with private industry and demonstrated the ability of differential Global Positioning System to support warfighting missions that was featured as the front-cover in Avionics Magazine and Aviation Week and Space Technology.