10 U.S.C. § 1746: Defense Acquisition University

the professional educational development and training of the acquisition workforce; and research and analysis of defense acquisition policy issues from an academic perspective. The Secretary of Defense may employ as many civilians as professors, instructors, and lecturers in the defense acquisition university structure as the Secretary considers necessary. The Secretary of Defense shall ensure the defense acquisition university structure includes relevant expert lecturers from extramural institutions (as defined in section 1746a(g) of this title ), industry, or federally funded research and development centers to advance acquisition workforce competence regarding commercial business interests, acquisition process-related innovations, and other relevant leading practices of the private sector. The compensation of persons employed under this subsection shall be as prescribed by the Secretary. In this subsection, the term “defense acquisition university” includes the Defense Systems Management College. The President of the Defense Acquisition University shall work with the relevant professional schools and degree-granting institutions of the Department of Defense and military departments, and with extramural institutions (as defined in section 1746a(g) of this title ), to ensure that best practices are used in curriculum development to support acquisition workforce positions. In engaging in research and development projects pursuant to subsection (a) of section 4001 of this title by a contract, cooperative agreement, or grant pursuant to subsection (b)(1) of such section, the Secretary may enter into such contract or cooperative agreement or award such grant through the Defense Acquisition University. The Defense Acquisition University shall be considered a Government-operated Federal laboratory for purposes of section 12 of the Stevenson-Wydler Technology Innovation Act of 1980 ( 15 U.S.C. 3710a ). The Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment shall appoint the President of the Defense Acquisition University. Leadership abilities. Experience using leading practices to develop talent in the private sector. Other qualifying factors, including experience with and an understanding of the defense acquisition system (as defined in section 3001 of this title ), an understanding of emerging technologies and the defense applications of such technologies, experience partnering with States, national associations, and academia, and experience with learning technologies. The tenure of the President of the Defense Acquisition University shall be not more than five years, unless the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment determines it necessary to extend the tenure for up to an additional five years. The preceding sentence does not apply to the President of the Defense Acquisition University serving on January 1, 2025 , who shall serve a maximum tenure of three years beginning on the date of the enactment of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2025 without an option for extension of such tenure. The President of the Defense Acquisition University, shall supplement existing training curricula related to software acquisitions and cybersecurity software or hardware acquisitions and offer such curricula to covered individuals to increase digital literacy related to such acquisitions by developing the ability of such covered individuals to use technology to identify, critically evaluate, and synthesize data and information related to such acquisitions. cybersecurity, information technology systems, computer networks, cloud computing, artificial intelligence, machine learning, distributed ledger technologies, and quantum technologies; cybersecurity threats and capabilities; activities that encompass the full range of threat reduction, vulnerability reduction, deterrence, incident response, resiliency, and recovery policies and activities, including activities relating to computer network operations, information assurance, military missions, and intelligence missions to the extent such activities relate to the security and stability of cyberspace; and the industry best practices relating to software acquisitions and cybersecurity software or hardware acquisitions. curriculum development; hiring instructors to teach the curriculum; facilities; or website development. Not later than one year after the date on which the plan described in subsection (d) [sic; probably should be “subsection (c)”] is submitted to the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and House of Representatives, the President of the Defense Acquisition University shall offer the curricula developed under subsection (a) to covered individuals. Not later than one year after the date on which the plan described in subsection (d) [sic; probably should be “subsection (c)”] is submitted to the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and House of Representatives, the Secretary of Defense, in consultation with the President of the Defense Acquisition University, shall submit to Congress a report assessing the costs and benefits of requiring all covered individuals to complete the curricula developed under subsection (a). In this section, the term ‘covered individuals’ means an individual serving in a position designated under section 1721(b) of title 10 , United States Code, who is regularly consulted for software acquisitions or cybersecurity software or hardware acquisitions.” The origin of part 12 and the congressional mandate to prefer commercial procurements. The definition of a commercial item, with a particular focus on the ‘of a type’ concept. Price analysis and negotiations. Market research and analysis. Independent cost estimates. Parametric estimating methods. Value analysis. Best practices in pricing from commercial sector organizations, foreign government organizations, and other Federal, State, and local public sectors organizations. Other topics on commercial procurements necessary to ensure a well-educated acquisition workforce. The President of the Defense Acquisition University shall set goals for student enrollment for the comprehensive training program established under subsection (a). engage academic experts on research topics of interest to improve commercial item identification and pricing methodologies; and facilitate exchange and interface opportunities between government personnel to increase awareness of best practices and challenges in commercial item identification and pricing. The Secretary of Defense shall use amounts available in the Department of Defense Acquisition Workforce Development Fund established under section 1705 of title 10 , United States Code, to fund the comprehensive training program established under subsection (a).” Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act [ Dec. 12, 2017 ], the Secretary of Defense, in consultation with the President of the Defense Acquisition University, shall establish a training course at the Defense Acquisition University on agile or iterative development methods to provide training for personnel implementing and supporting the pilot programs required by sections 873 and 874 of this Act [ 10 U.S.C. 4571 note, former 10 U.S.C. 3101 note prec.]. Training designed to instill a common understanding of all functional roles and dependencies involved in developing and producing a capability using agile or iterative development methods. An exercise involving teams composed of personnel from pertinent functions and functional organizations engaged in developing an integrated agile or iterative development method for a specific program. Instructors and content from non-governmental entities, as appropriate, to highlight commercial best practices in using an agile or iterative development method. The Secretary shall ensure that the course is updated as needed, including through incorporating lessons learned from the implementation of the pilot programs required by sections 873 and 874 of this Act in subsequent versions of the course. available for certified acquisition personnel working on programs or projects using agile or iterative development methods; and mandatory for personnel participating in the pilot programs required by sections 873 and 874 of this Act from the relevant organizations in each of the military departments and Defense Agencies, including organizations responsible for engineering, budgeting, contracting, test and evaluation, requirements validation, and certification and accreditation. The Secretary and the senior acquisition executives in each of the military departments and Defense Agencies, in coordination with the Director of the Defense Digital Service, shall assign to offices supporting systems selected for participation in the pilot programs required by sections 873 and 874 of this Act a subject matter expert with knowledge of commercial agile acquisition methods and Department of Defense acquisition processes to provide assistance and to advise appropriate acquisition authorities of the expert’s observations. The President of the Defense Acquisition University shall establish a research program to conduct research on and development of agile acquisition practices and tools best tailored to meet the mission needs of the Department of Defense. means acquisition pursuant to a method for delivering multiple, rapid, incremental capabilities to the user for operational use, evaluation, and feedback not exclusively linked to any single, proprietary method or process; and the incremental development and fielding of capabilities, commonly called ‘spirals’, ‘spins’, or ‘sprints’, which can be measured in a few weeks or months; and continuous participation and collaboration by users, testers, and requirements authorities.”