Assistant Secretary of Defense for Acquisition

{{Use American English|date=February 2021}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2021}}

{{Infobox official post

|post = Assistant Secretary of Defense for Acquisition

|insignia = Emblem of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Sustainment.png

|insigniasize = 100

|insigniacaption = Emblem of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Sustainment

|flag = Flag of an U.S. Assistant Secretary of Defense.svg

|flagsize = 120

|flagcaption = Flag of an Assistant Secretary of Defense

|department = Office of the Secretary of Defense

|reports_to = Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment
Deputy Secretary of Defense
Secretary of Defense

|image =

|incumbent = James A. Ruocco (acting)https://www.acq.osd.mil/asda/asda-leaders.html

|incumbentsince = 22 January 2025

|acting =

|appointer = The President
with the advice and consent of the Senate

|termlength = No fixed term

|formation = 1 October 2011

|succession = 16th in SecDef succession

|deputy = John M. Tenaglia

|salary = Level IV of the Executive Schedule

|website = {{url|www.acq.osd.mil/asda}}

}}

The Assistant Secretary of Defense for Acquisition, or ASD (A), is one of three assistant secretaries reporting to the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment.{{cite web|url=https://www.acq.osd.mil/asda/index.html|title=Assistant Secretary of Defense for Acquisition - OUSD A&S|accessdate=14 February 2021}} The position is the principal advisor to the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment, the Deputy Secretary of Defense, and the Secretary of Defense on matters relating to acquisition program management; the Department of Defense Acquisition System; and the development of strategic, space, intelligence, tactical warfare, command and control, and business systems.{{cite web|url=https://www.acq.osd.mil/asda/weatherington.html|title=Dyke D. Weatherington|accessdate=14 February 2021}}

Roles & responsibilities

The Assistant Secretary of Defense for Acquisition's priority, is to deliver a Defense Acquisition System that is flexible, tailorable, and enables speed, and is able to deliver capability at the point of need. Currently, the office is focused on transitioning from an acquisition system that is expensive, slow, and burdensome towards one involving reduced timelines, lower costs, and improved quality.

Organization

The Assistant Secretary of Defense for Acquisition has the following people reporting to them:{{cite web|url=https://www.acq.osd.mil/asda/organization.html|title=ASD(A) Organization Chart|accessdate=15 February 2021}}

  • Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Acquisition
  • Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Acquisition Enablers
  • Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Strategic, Space, and Intelligence Portfolio Management
  • Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Platform and Weapon Portfolio Management
  • Executive Director, Joint Rapid Acquisition Cell
  • Principal Director, Defense Pricing and Contracting
  • President, Defense Acquisition University
  • Director, Defense Contract Management Agency

Office holders

class="wikitable"
rowspan=2|{{abbr|No.|Number}}

!colspan=2|Assistant Secretary{{Cite web |title=Department of Defense Key Officials September 1947–March 2022 |url=https://history.defense.gov/Portals/70/Documents/key_officials/KeyOfficials03-10-22.pdf?ver=8c9KlZMxdi4fATjl3BOqzQ%3d%3d |website=Historical Office of the Office of the Secretary of Defense}}

!colspan=3|Term

!rowspan=2|SecDef(s) Served Under

!rowspan=2|President(s) Served Under

!rowspan=2|{{abbr|Ref(s)|Reference(s)}}

Portrait

!Name

!Took office

!Left office

!Term length

{{Officeholder table

| order = –

| image = Katrina G. McFarland.jpg

| officeholder = Katrina G. McFarland

| officeholder_sort =

| born_year =

| died_year =

| term_start = 1 October 2011

| term_end = 24 May 2012

| timeinoffice = {{ayd|1 October 2011|24 May 2012}}

| alt_officeholder = Leon Panetta

| coalition = Barack Obama

| ref = {{cite web|url=http://www.tribdem.com/katrina-g-mcfarland-assitant-secretary-of-defense-acquisition/image_c9b59316-f415-11e4-b7bb-830b88113465.html|title=Katrina G. McFarland, assitant [sic] secretary of defense (acquisition)|date=6 May 2015 |accessdate=15 February 2021}}

| acting = y

}}

{{Officeholder table

| order = 1

| image = Katrina G. McFarland (2).webp

| officeholder = Katrina G. McFarland

| officeholder_sort =

| born_year =

| died_year =

| term_start = 24 May 2012

| term_end = 20 January 2017

| timeinoffice = {{ayd|24 May 2012|20 January 2017}}

| alt_officeholder = Leon Panetta
Chuck Hagel
Ash Carter

| coalition = Barack Obama

| ref = {{cite web|url=http://www.tribdem.com/katrina-g-mcfarland-assitant-secretary-of-defense-acquisition/image_c9b59316-f415-11e4-b7bb-830b88113465.html|title=Katrina G. McFarland, assitant [sic] secretary of defense (acquisition)|date=6 May 2015 |accessdate=15 February 2021}}

}}

{{Officeholder table

| order = –

| image = Dyke D. Weatherington.jpg

| officeholder = Dyke D. Weatherington

| officeholder_sort =

| born_year =

| died_year =

| term_start = 20 January 2017

| term_end = 14 December 2017

| timeinoffice = {{ayd|20 January 2017|14 December 2017}}

| alt_officeholder = Jim Mattis

| coalition = Donald Trump

| ref = {{spaces}}

| acting = y

}}

{{Officeholder table

| order = –

| image = Official Photo of James MacStravic.png

| officeholder = James A. MacStravic

| officeholder_sort =

| born_year =

| died_year =

| term_start = 14 December 2017

| term_end = 18 February 2018

| timeinoffice = {{ayd|14 December 2017|18 February 2018}}

| alt_officeholder = Jim Mattis

| coalition = Donald Trump

| ref = {{spaces}}

| acting = y

}}

{{Officeholder table

| order = 2

| image = Kevin M. Fahey official photo.jpg

| officeholder = Kevin M. Fahey

| officeholder_sort =

| born_year =

| died_year =

| term_start = 18 February 2018

| term_end = 20 January 2021

| timeinoffice = {{ayd|18 February 2018|20 January 2021}}

| alt_officeholder = Jim Mattis
Mark Esper

| coalition = Donald Trump

| ref = {{cite web|url=https://www.armed-services.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/Fahey_02-08-18.pdf|title=Kevin M. Fahey – Senate Armed Service Committee – Confirmation Hearing-Nominee to be Assistant Secretary of Defense for Acquisition|accessdate=15 February 2021}}

}}

{{Officeholder table

| order = –

| image = Dyke D. Weatherington.jpg

| officeholder = Dyke D. Weatherington

| officeholder_sort =

| born_year =

| died_year =

| term_start = 20 January 2021

| term_end = 30 June 2021

| timeinoffice = {{ayd|20 January 2021|30 June 2021}}

| alt_officeholder = Lloyd Austin

| coalition = Joe Biden

| ref = {{cite web|url=https://media.defense.gov/2021/Jan/20/2002567440/-1/-1/0/SUCCESSION-PLAN-FOR-JANUARY-20-2021-OSD000392-21-RES-FINAL.PDF|title=Memorandum for Senior Pentagon Leadership Defense Agency and DOD Field Activity Directors|date=19 January 2021|page=2|accessdate=15 February 2021}}

| acting = y

}}

{{Officeholder table

| order = –

| image = Christopher_C._O'Donnell.jpg

| officeholder = Christopher C. O'Donnell

| officeholder_sort =

| born_year =

| died_year =

| term_start = 1 July 2021

| term_end = 3 March 2022

| timeinoffice = {{ayd|1 July 2021|3 March 2022}}

| alt_officeholder = Lloyd Austin

| coalition = Joe Biden

| ref = {{Cite web|title=OUSD A&S Leadership|url=https://www.acq.osd.mil/leadership/asda/christopher-odonnell.html|access-date=August 4, 2021|website=www.acq.osd.mil}}

| acting = y

}}

{{Officeholder table

| order = –

| image = Tanya M. Skeen (4).jpg

| officeholder = Tanya M. Skeen

| officeholder_sort =

| born_year =

| died_year =

| term_start = 3 March 2022

| timeinoffice = {{ayd|3 March 2022|15 August 2023}}

| term_end = 15 August 2023

| alt_officeholder = Lloyd Austin

| coalition = Joe Biden

| ref = {{cite web | url=https://www.acq.osd.mil/leadership/asda/tanya-skeen.html | title=OUSD A&S Leadership }}https://www.linkedin.com/company/asd-acquisition/ {{Self-published source|date=June 2022}}

| acting = y

}}

{{Officeholder table

| order = –

| image = Ashworth-official.jpg

| officeholder = Gary A. Ashworth

| officeholder_sort =

| born_year =

| died_year =

| term_start = 15 August 2023

| term_end = 5 March 2024

| timeinoffice = {{ayd|15 August 2023|5 March 2024}}

| alt_officeholder = Lloyd Austin

| coalition = Joe Biden

| ref = {{cite web | url=https://www.acq.osd.mil/asda/leadership/gary-ashworth.html | title=OUSD A&S - Assistant Secretary of Defense (Acquisition) }}https://www.linkedin.com/posts/ousd-as_acquisition-and-sustainment-leadership-transition-activity-7171189646884757505-sF4d

| acting = y

}}

{{Officeholder table

| order = 3

| image = Cara L. Abercrombie (2).jpg

| officeholder = Cara L. Abercrombie

| officeholder_sort =

| born_year =

| died_year =

| term_start = 5 March 2024

| term_end = 29 May 2024

| timeinoffice = {{ayd|5 March 2024|29 May 2024}}

| alt_officeholder = Lloyd Austin

| coalition = Joe Biden

| ref = {{cite web | url=https://www.acq.osd.mil/asda/leadership/cara-abercrombie.html | title=OUSD A&S - Assistant Secretary of Defense (Acquisition) }}

| acting =

}}

{{Officeholder table

| order = –

| image = Ashworth-official.jpg

| officeholder = Gary A. Ashworth

| officeholder_sort =

| born_year =

| died_year =

| term_start = 29 May 2024

| term_end = 20 January 2025

| timeinoffice = {{ayd|29 May 2024|20 January 2025}}

| alt_officeholder = Lloyd Austin

| coalition = Joe Biden

| ref = -

| acting = y

}}

{{Officeholder table

| order = –

| image =

| officeholder = Brett G. Ingraham

| officeholder_sort =

| born_year =

| died_year =

| term_start = 20 January 2025

| term_end = 22 January 2025

| timeinoffice = {{ayd|20 January 2025|22 January 2025}}

| alt_officeholder = Robert G. Salesses (acting)

| coalition = Donald Trump

| ref = https://www.acq.osd.mil/asda/leadership/brent-ingraham.html

| acting = y

}}

{{Officeholder table

| order = –

| image =

| officeholder = James A. Ruocco

| officeholder_sort =

| born_year =

| died_year =

| term_start = 22 January 2025

| term_end =

| timeinoffice = {{ayd|22 January 2025}}

| alt_officeholder = Pete Hegseth

| coalition = Donald Trump

| ref = -

| acting = y

}}

=Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary=

class="wikitable"
rowspan=2|{{abbr|No.|Number}}

!colspan=2|Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary

!colspan=3|Term

!rowspan=2|SecDef(s) Served Under

!rowspan=2|President(s) Served Under

!rowspan=2|{{abbr|Ref(s)|Reference(s)}}

Portrait

!Name

!Took office

!Left office

!Term length

{{Officeholder table

| order = 1

| image = Stacy Cummings.jpg

| officeholder = Stacy A. Cummings

| officeholder_sort =

| born_year =

| died_year =

| term_start = March 2019

| term_end = 20 January 2021

| timeinoffice = ~{{ayd|15 March 2019|20 January 2021}}

| alt_officeholder = Mark Esper

| coalition = Donald Trump

| ref = {{cite news|url=https://www.defensenews.com/smr/transition/2021/01/13/cummings-to-serve-as-acting-pentagon-acquisition-head/|title=Cummings to serve as acting Pentagon acquisition head|publisher=DefenseNews|date=13 January 2021|accessdate=15 February 2021}}

}}

{{Officeholder table

| order = –

| image = Christopher C. O'Donnell.jpg

| officeholder = Christopher C. O'Donnell

| officeholder_sort =

| born_year =

| died_year =

| term_start = 20 January 2021

| term_end = 30 June 2021

| timeinoffice = {{ayd|20 January 2021|30 June 2021}}

| alt_officeholder = Lloyd Austin

| coalition = Joe Biden

| ref = {{spaces}}

| acting = y

}}

{{Officeholder table

| order = –

| image = John Tenaglia Official Photo.jpg

| officeholder = John M. Tenaglia

| officeholder_sort =

| born_year =

| died_year =

| term_start = 1 July 2021

| term_end = 3 March 2022

| timeinoffice = {{ayd|1 July 2021|3 March 2022}}

| alt_officeholder = Lloyd Austin

| coalition = Joe Biden

| ref =

| acting = y

}}

{{Officeholder table

| order = –

| image = Christopher C. O'Donnell.jpg

| officeholder = Christopher C. O'Donnell

| officeholder_sort =

| born_year =

| died_year =

| term_start = 3 March 2022

| term_end = 15 August 2023

| timeinoffice = {{ayd|3 March 2022|15 August 2023}}

| alt_officeholder = Lloyd Austin

| coalition = Joe Biden

| ref = {{spaces}}

| acting = y

}}

{{Officeholder table

| order = –

| image = John Tenaglia Official Photo.jpg

| officeholder = John M. Tenaglia

| officeholder_sort =

| born_year =

| died_year =

| term_start = 15 August 2023

| term_end = 5 March 2024

| timeinoffice = {{ayd|15 August 2023|5 March 2024}}

| alt_officeholder = Lloyd Austin

| coalition = Joe Biden

| ref = {{cite web | url=https://www.acq.osd.mil/asda/dpc/leadership/john-tenaglia.html | title=OUSD A&S Leadership }}

| acting = y

}}

{{Officeholder table

| order = 2

| image = Ashworth-official.jpg

| officeholder = Gary A. Ashworth

| officeholder_sort =

| born_year =

| died_year =

| term_start = 5 March 2024

| term_end = 29 May 2024

| timeinoffice = {{ayd|5 March 2024|29 May 2024}}

| alt_officeholder = Lloyd Austin

| coalition = Joe Biden

| ref = {{cite web | url=https://www.acq.osd.mil/asda/leadership/gary-ashworth.html | title=OUSD A&S - Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense (Acquisition) }}

| acting =

}}

{{Officeholder table

| order = –

| image = John Tenaglia Official Photo.jpg

| officeholder = John M. Tenaglia

| officeholder_sort =

| born_year =

| died_year =

| term_start = 29 May 2024

| timeinoffice = {{ayd|29 May 2024}}

| alt_officeholder = Lloyd Austin
Pete Hegseth

| coalition = Joe Biden
Donald Trump

| ref =

| acting = y

}}

References

{{reflist}}

Acq

Acq