(a) In general
Subchapter I of chapter 87 of title 10, United States Code, is amended by inserting after section 1702 the following new sections:
1703. Chief Acquisition Talent Officer of the Department of Defense
(a) In general
There is a Chief Acquisition Talent Officer of the Department of Defense, who shall be appointed by the Secretary of Defense and shall report to the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment.
(b) Appointment authorities
The Secretary of Defense may appoint the Chief Acquisition Talent Officer of the Department of Defense as—
a member of the Senior Executive Service; or
a highly qualified expert under section 9903 of title 5, or other applicable authority.
(c) Qualifications
(1) In general
The Chief Acquisition Talent Officer of the Department of Defense shall possess substantial experience in strategic talent management, workforce development, or organizational leadership in large public or private sector organizations.
(2) Exclusivity
An individual serving as the Chief Acquisition Talent Officer of the Department of Defense may not hold or occupy another position in the Department of Defense.
(d) Responsibilities
(1) In general
The Chief Acquisition Talent Officer of the Department of Defense shall support the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment in carrying out the responsibilities of the Under Secretary with respect to the acquisition workforce under section 1702 of this title through Department of Defense-wide strategy, planning, education, training, and management of the acquisition workforce.
(2) Specific duties
In carrying out the responsibilities under paragraph (1), the Chief Acquisition Talent Officer of the Department of Defense shall—
serve as the principal staff assistant to the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment on matters relating to acquisition workforce talent management;
engage with the service acquisition executives, portfolio acquisition executives, and other appropriate officials of the Department of Defense to provide support and assistance with the responsibilities of such officials related to the planning, development, and management of the acquisition workforce that are required to execute acquisition programs and portfolios;
use the Department-wide acquisition workforce data analytics capability established under section 1701a(b)(12) of this title to assess the capacity of the acquisition workforce, identify gaps in the capabilities of the acquisition workforce, forecast the needs of the acquisition workforce, and evaluate the effectiveness of acquisition workforce development initiatives and investments;
develop and maintain a Department of Defense-wide acquisition workforce strategy to ensure that the acquisition workforce has the capacity, capabilities, and competencies necessary to achieve the objectives of the defense acquisition system under section 3102 of this title;
enable the successful implementation of the acquisition workforce strategy required by subparagraph (D) by—
assisting the Secretary of Defense in establishing policies and procedures for the effective management of the acquisition workforce in accordance with section 1701 of this title;
establishing Department-wide acquisition workforce planning processes; and
developing and implementing talent management initiatives for the acquisition workforce;
coordinate with the Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness and the Secretaries of the military departments to enable the alignment of—
specific education and training for members of the acquisition workforce who are members of the armed forces with general education and training requirements, including professional military education requirements for members of the armed forces; and
specific assignment and career development policies related to the civilian members of the acquisition workforce and the members of the acquisition workforce who are members of the armed forces;
require the activities and curriculum of the Defense Acquisition University and, as appropriate, other education and training providers supporting the acquisition workforce, to—
align with the objectives of the defense acquisition system established pursuant to section 3102 of this title;
promote continuous learning and technical skills improvement across the acquisition workforce; and
support and enable the successful implementation of the acquisition workforce strategy required by subparagraph (D);
support the integration of key performance objectives for the acquisition workforce, established under section 1722b(d) of this title, into the training, certification, career development, and performance management systems of the Department for the acquisition workforce;
assist the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment in executing programs related to the talent management initiatives of the acquisition workforce, including the Defense Civilian Training Corps authorized under section 2200g of this title, and ensure that such programs are appropriately integrated into Department-wide acquisition workforce planning;
promote and facilitate the use of the authorities under section 1599g of this title and other mechanisms to strengthen the acquisition workforce through exchanges with the private sector;
frequently conduct assessments of the capacity, capability, and performance of the acquisition workforce and develop and submit to the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment recommendations for Department-wide acquisition workforce investments under the Defense Acquisition Workforce Development Account established under section 1705 of this title; and
convene, not less frequently than semiannually, the service acquisition executives, Service Chief Acquisition Talent Officers, Component Acquisition Executives (as defined in section 1703a(d) of this title), and such other officers of the Department as determined appropriate by the Chief Acquisition Talent Officer of the Department to assess the effectiveness of the acquisition workforce strategy required by subparagraph (D) and review the performance and priorities of the acquisition workforce across the Department.
(3) Talent management initiative defined
In this subsection, the term talent management initiative means the activities of the Department of Defense relating to recruitment, hiring, development, education, training, credentialing, performance management, retention, succession planning, and mobility, including rotations, reassignments, and career progression pathways, for the acquisition workforce.
(e) Acquisition workforce plans
(1) In general
In addition to the duties under subsection (d), the Chief Acquisition Talent Officer of the Department of Defense shall issue guidance requiring each Service Chief Acquisition Talent Officer and Component Chief Acquisition Talent Officer to develop and submit to the Chief Acquisition Talent Officer of the Department of Defense not less frequently than annually a plan for the acquisition workforce of the applicable military department or component of the Department of Defense that supports and enables the successful implementation of the acquisition workforce strategy required by subsection (d)(2)(D).
(2) Timeline
The Chief Acquisition Talent Officer of the Department of Defense shall ensure that the plans required under paragraph (1) are submitted in a timely manner so as to inform the development of the budget submitted to Congress under section 1105 of title 31.
(3) Plan elements
Each plan for the acquisition workforce of a military department or component of the Department of Defense submitted pursuant to paragraph (1) or under paragraph (4) shall include—
an assessment of the size, composition, and distribution of such acquisition workforce;
an identification of gaps in critical skills and projected workforce needs of such acquisition workforce, including anticipated hiring requirements and requirements for emerging skills necessary to support acquisition priorities;
the hiring, retention, and workforce development plans for such acquisition workforce;
the anticipated requirements for and availability of training programs and development programs to support the hiring, retention, and workforce development plans described in subparagraph (C); and
an explanation of how the acquisition workforce plan supports the acquisition workforce strategy required by subsection (d)(2)(D).
(4) Alignment
The Chief Acquisition Talent Officer of the Department of Defense shall, for each plan submitted pursuant to paragraph (1) or under paragraph (6)—
evaluate whether such plan aligns with the Department-wide acquisition workforce strategy and priorities; and
provide to the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment—
a recommendation regarding whether to approve such plan; and
recommendations regarding workforce investments associated with such plan, including investments under the Defense Acquisition Workforce Development Account established under section 1705 of this title, to ensure alignment with workforce plans approved by the Under Secretary and the Department-wide acquisition workforce strategy.
(5) Flexibility for program adjustments
In carrying out this subsection, the Chief Acquisition Talent Officer of the Department of Defense and the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment shall ensure that workforce planning, evaluation, and reporting under this subsection remain responsive to changes in the requirements of acquisition programs, including program terminations, restructurings, or changes in scope.
(6) Approval
(A) In general
Not later than 90 days after the date on which a Service Chief Acquisition Talent Officer or Component Chief Acquisition Talent Officer submits a plan for the acquisition workforce of the military department or component of the Department pursuant to paragraph (1) or under this paragraph, the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment shall—
approve or reject such plan; and
provide to such Service Chief Acquisition Talent Officer or Component Chief Acquisition Talent Officer a written notice of such approval or rejection.
(B) Plan revision
If the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment rejects a plan under subparagraph (A)—
the Under Secretary shall include in the notice required by clause (ii) of such subparagraph a written explanation of the reasons for such rejection and any revisions required for such plan to be approved; and
the Service Chief Acquisition Talent Officer or Component Chief Acquisition Talent Officer that submitted such plan pursuant to paragraph (1) or under this paragraph shall revise such plan and submit such revised plan to the Chief Acquisition Talent Officer of the Department of Defense.
(f) Report to Congress
Not later than March 1 of each year, the Chief Acquisition Talent Officer of the Department of Defense shall submit to the congressional defense committees a report on the effectiveness of the Department-wide acquisition workforce strategy, including—
an assessment of workforce trends, hiring and retention challenges, and critical skill gaps of the acquisition workforce;
an evaluation of the extent to which the acquisition workforces of the military departments and components are aligned with the objectives of the defense acquisition system established pursuant to section 3102 of this title and the Department-wide acquisition workforce strategy required by subsection (d)(2)(D);
a summary and assessment of the plans submitted under subsection (e), including for each plan rejected under subsection (e)(6), a summary of the reasons for such rejection; and
recommendations for legislative and administrative actions to address identified workforce gaps, improve workforce performance, and strengthen the acquisition workforce.
(g) Deputy Chief Acquisition Talent Officer
The Secretary of Defense may appoint a Deputy Chief Acquisition Talent Officer of the Department of Defense, from among individuals serving in the Senior Executive Service or other appropriate positions in the Department of Defense, to assist the Chief Acquisition Talent Officer of the Department of Defense in carrying out the responsibilities of the Chief Acquisition Talent Officer of the Department of Defense under this section.
(h) Personnel and resources
(1) In general
The Secretary of Defense shall ensure that the Chief Acquisition Talent Officer of the Department of Defense is provided dedicated personnel and resources necessary to carry out the responsibilities of the Chief Acquisition Talent Officer of the Department of Defense.
(2) Dedicated personnel and resources defined
In this subsection, dedicated personnel and resources means personnel and resources that are—
exclusively engaged in supporting the Chief Acquisition Talent Officer of the Department of Defense in carrying out the responsibilities of the Chief Acquisition Talent Officer of the Department of Defense; and
under the exclusive authority of the Chief Acquisition Talent Officer of the Department of Defense.
1703a. Service and Component Chief Acquisition Talent Officers
(a) In general
The Secretary of each military department and the head of each component of the Department of Defense for which there is a component acquisition executive shall designate a senior official of such military department or component as the Service Chief Acquisition Talent Officer of such military department or the Component Chief Acquisition Talent Officer of such component.
(b) Reporting
(1) Military departments
A Service Chief Acquisition Talent Officer of a military department designated under subsection (a) shall report to the service acquisition executive of such military department.
(2) Components
A Component Chief Acquisition Talent Officer of a component of the Department of Defense designated under subsection (a) shall report to the component acquisition executive of such component, except that if such Component Chief Acquisition Talent Officer is the component acquisition executive of such component, such officer shall report to the head of such component with respect to the duties of such Component Chief Acquisition Talent Officer under this section.
(c) Duties
A Service Chief Acquisition Talent Officer of a military department or Component Chief Acquisition Talent Officer of a component of the Department of Defense designated under subsection (a) shall, subject to the authority, direction, and control of the official to whom such Service Chief Acquisition Talent Officer or Component Chief Acquisition Talent Officer reports under subsection (b)—
develop, submit to the Chief Acquisition Talent Officer of the Department of Defense, and implement each plan for the acquisition workforce of such military department or component required under section 1703(e) of this title in accordance with the guidance issued by the Chief Acquisition Talent Officer of the Department of Defense;
oversee the execution of workforce plans and talent management initiatives for the acquisition workforce of such military department or component in support of the Department-wide acquisition workforce strategy;
advise the official to whom such Service Chief Acquisition Talent Officer or Component Chief Acquisition Talent Officer reports under subsection (b) on matters relating to the readiness of the acquisition workforce of such military department or component;
support the service acquisition executive, portfolio acquisition executive, or component acquisition executive in identifying and addressing acquisition workforce requirements necessary to execute acquisition programs and portfolios;
coordinate with the Chief Acquisition Talent Officer of the Department of Defense on Defense-wide initiatives and programs for the acquisition workforce, including implementation of the Department-wide acquisition workforce strategy;
support the alignment of education and training for members of the acquisition workforce of such military department or component to enable the alignment of—
specific education and training for members of the acquisition workforce with general education and training requirements, including professional military education requirements for members of the armed forces; and
specific assignment and career development policies related to the civilian members of the acquisition workforce and the members of the acquisition workforce who are members of the armed forces;
establish hiring priorities and promote the effective use of hiring authorities for the acquisition workforce of such military department or component;
support the use of the authorities under section 1599g of this title and other mechanisms to strengthen the acquisition workforce of such military department or component through public-private talent exchanges;
provide to the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment data related to the acquisition workforce of such military department or component as required to support the Department-wide acquisition workforce data analytics capability and workforce planning; and
perform such other duties as determined appropriate by the official to whom such Service Chief Acquisition Talent Officer or Component Chief Acquisition Talent Officer reports under subsection (b).
(d) Component acquisition executive defined
In this subsection, the term component acquisition executive means the acquisition executive of a component of the Department of Defense, including combatant commands and the Defense Logistics Agency, who is responsible for all acquisition functions of such component, except that such term does not include service acquisition executives.
(b) Clerical amendment
The table of sections of subchapter I of chapter 87 of title 10, United States Code, is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 1702 the following new items:
(c) Conforming amendment
(1) Defense Acquisition University
Section 1746(e) of title 10, United States Code, is amended—
by redesignating paragraphs (2) and (3) as paragraphs (3) and (4), respectively; and
by inserting after paragraph (1) the following new paragraph:
The President of the Defense Acquisition University shall report directly to the Chief Acquisition Talent Officer of the Department of Defense.
(2) Defense Civilian and Training Corps
Section 2200g of title 10, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new subsection:
(d) Administration
The Chief Acquisition Talent Officer of the Department of Defense shall administer and oversee the Defense Civilian Training Corps program under the authority of the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment.
(d) Implementation
(1) Chief Acquisition Talent Officer of the Department of Defense
The Secretary of Defense shall implement section 1703 of title 10, United States Code, as added by subsection (a), not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act.
(2) Service and Component Chief Acquisition Talent Officers
Each Secretary of a military department (as defined in section 101(a) of title 10, United States Code) and each head of a component of the Department of Defense described in subsection (a) of section 1703a of title 10, United States Code, as added by subsection (a), shall implement such section with respect to such military department or component, as applicable, not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act.