Assistant Secretary of Defense for Acquisition

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Assistant Secretary of Defense for Acquisition
Emblem of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Sustainment.png
Emblem of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Sustainment
Flag of an U.S. Assistant Secretary of Defense.svg
Ashworth-official.jpg
Incumbent
Gary A. Ashworth
since 24 May 2024
Office of the Secretary of Defense
Reports to Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment
Deputy Secretary of Defense
Secretary of Defense
AppointerThe President
with the advice and consent of the Senate
Term length No fixed term
Formation1 October 2011
Succession 16th in SecDef succession
DeputyJohn M. Tenaglia
Salary Level IV of the Executive Schedule
Website 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. [1] 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. [2]

Contents

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. [1]

Organization

The Assistant Secretary of Defense for Acquisition has the following people reporting to them: [3]

Office holders

No.Assistant Secretary [4] TermSecDef(s) Served UnderPresident(s) Served UnderRef(s)
PortraitNameTook officeLeft officeTerm length
Katrina G. McFarland.jpg
Katrina G. McFarland
Acting
1 October 201124 May 2012236 days Leon Panetta Barack Obama [5]
1
Katrina G. McFarland (2).webp
Katrina G. McFarland 24 May 201220 January 20174 years, 241 days Leon Panetta
Chuck Hagel
Ash Carter
Barack Obama [6]
Dyke D. Weatherington.jpg
Dyke D. Weatherington
Acting
20 January 201714 December 2017328 days Jim Mattis Donald Trump  
Official Photo of James MacStravic.png
James A. MacStravic
Acting
14 December 201718 February 201866 days Jim Mattis Donald Trump  
2
Kevin M. Fahey official photo.jpg
Kevin M. Fahey 18 February 201820 January 20212 years, 337 days Jim Mattis
Mark Esper
Donald Trump [7]
Dyke D. Weatherington.jpg
Dyke D. Weatherington
Acting
20 January 202130 June 2021161 days Lloyd Austin Joe Biden [2] [8]
Christopher C. O'Donnell.jpg
Christopher C. O'Donnell
Acting
1 July 202115 March 2022257 days Lloyd Austin Joe Biden [9]
Tanya M. Skeen (4).jpg
Tanya M. Skeen
Acting
~3 March 202215 August 2023~1 year, 165 days Lloyd Austin Joe Biden [10] [11]
Ashworth-official.jpg
Gary A. Ashworth
Acting
15 August 20235 March 2024203 days Lloyd Austin Joe Biden [12] [13]
3
Cara L. Abercrombie (2).jpg
Cara L. Abercrombie 5 March 202424 May 202480 days Lloyd Austin Joe Biden [14]
Ashworth-official.jpg
Gary A. Ashworth
Acting
24 May 2024Incumbent16 days Lloyd Austin Joe Biden -

Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary

No.Principal Deputy Assistant SecretaryTermSecDef(s) Served UnderPresident(s) Served UnderRef(s)
PortraitNameTook officeLeft officeTerm length
1
Stacy Cummings.jpg
Stacy A. Cummings March 201920 January 2021~1 year, 311 days Mark Esper Donald Trump [15]
Christopher C. O'Donnell.jpg
Christopher C. O'Donnell
Acting
20 January 202130 June 2021161 days Lloyd Austin Joe Biden  
John Tenaglia Official Photo.jpg
John M. Tenaglia
Acting
1 July 20213 March 2022245 days Lloyd Austin Joe Biden [9]
Christopher C. O'Donnell.jpg
Christopher C. O'Donnell
Acting
~3 March 202215 August 2023~1 year, 165 days Lloyd Austin Joe Biden  
John Tenaglia Official Photo.jpg
John M. Tenaglia
Acting
15 August 20235 March 2024203 days Lloyd Austin Joe Biden [16]
2
Ashworth-official.jpg
Gary A. Ashworth 5 March 202424 May 202480 days Lloyd Austin Joe Biden [17]
John Tenaglia Official Photo.jpg
John M. Tenaglia
Acting
24 May 2024Incumbent16 days Lloyd Austin Joe Biden [9]

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