Lord retains oversight of nine programs

By Tony Bertuca / December 18, 2018 at 10:34 AM

After more than a year of reorganization intended to give the military services greater authority over their procurement programs, Pentagon acquisition chief Ellen Lord said yesterday she maintains oversight of only nine of 89 major defense programs.

According to the Pentagon, Lord’s milestone decision authority list includes, the Army’s Integrated Air and Missile Defense program; the Navy’s Littoral Combat Ship and Columbia class submarine; the Air Force’s Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle, the OCX Next Generation Operational Control System and recapitalization of presidential aircraft; the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter, the Ballistic Missile Defense System and Chemical Demilitarization-Assembled Chemical Weapons Alternatives.

The Fiscal Year 2016 National Defense Authorization Act shifted milestone decision authority for most major defense acquisition programs to the military services.

Meanwhile, the FY-17 NDAA directed the Pentagon to restructure its acquisition, technology and logistics office into two organizations: Lord's acquisition and sustainment office and a research and engineering organization, currently led by Mike Griffin.

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