ACQUISITION NEWS AND HIGHLIGHTS
Acquisition News and Highlights Acquisition-related news, press releases, announcements, and more on topics relevant to the acquisition professional.
Under Secretary of War for Research and Engineering Emil Michael Announces Six Critical Technology Areas for the War Department Department of War Press Release
Secretary of War Announces Acquisition Reform
- - - The following Acquisition Transformation Strategy document as well as three memo randa were referenced by Secretary of War Pete Hegseth during his remarks at the Na tional War College on Fort McNair, Washing ton, D.C., on Nov. 7. These directives outline the department’s next phase of acquisition. The guide and memoranda direct sweeping reforms across the Department of War to strengthen deterrence, rebuild the industrial base, and accelerate capability delivery to the Warfighter. (Read more) • Acquisition Transformation Strategy • Transforming the Defense Acquisition System into the Warfghting Acquisition System to Accelerate Fielding of Urgently Needed Capabilities to Our Warriors • Reforming the Joint Requirements Process to Accelerate Fielding of Warfighting Capabilities • Unifying the Department’s Arms Transfer and Security Cooperation Enterprise to Improve Effciency and Enable Burden-Sharing
The Under Secretary of War for Research and Engineering Emil Michael unveiled six Critical Technology Areas (CTAs) on Nov. 17, 2025, that will define the future of American military superiority. These CTAs represent the cutting edge of research and engineering, designed to deliver immedi - ate, tangible results to the Warfighter and ensure the United States remains the most lethal fighting force in the world. The six CTAs—Applied Artificial Intelligence (AAI), Biomanu - facturing (BIO), Contested Logistics Technologies (LOG), Quantum and Battlefield Information Dominance (Q-BID), Scaled Directed Energy (SCADE), and Scaled Hypersonics (SHY)—are designed to address the most pressing chal - lenges facing the modern battlefield. (Read more) Dozens of Federal Agencies Initiate Counter-sUAS Collaboration Pentagon News C. Todd Lopez Over 180 experts from the War Department and other agencies in the federal government met Nov. 25, 2025, for a summit to begin a planned three-year effort to de - liver counter-small unmanned aircraft system capabilities to Warfighters and keep the skies over America safe from dangerous drones. (Read more) • PN60-11 Joseph Jewell of Indiana, to be Assistant Secretary of Defense for Science and Technology. • PN22-11 Robert Kadlec of New York, to be Assistant Secretary of Defense for Nuclear Deterrence, Chemical, and Biological Defense, Department of Defense. • PN141-25 William Kirk of Maryland, to be Inspector General, Small Business Administration. • PN379-18 James Mazol of Virginia, to be Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering. • PN246-11 Platte Moring of South Carolina, to be Inspector • PN445-7 Michael Payne of Virginia, to be Director of Cost Assessment and Program Evaluation, Department of Defense. • PN60-17 Brendan Rogers of Connecticut, to be Assistant General, Department of Defense.
Nominations Pending Before the United States Senate (Current Congress) Note. Department of Defense is now designated Department of War. • PN246-1 Derrick Anderson of Virginia, to be Assistant Secretary of Defense for Special Operations and Low-
Intensity Conflict, Department of Defense.
• PN129-1 David Bec k of Tennessee, to be Deputy Administrator for Defense Programs, National Nuclear
Security Administration.
• PN60-4 Marc Berkowitz of Virginia, to be Assistant
Secretary of Defense for Space Policy.
• PN141-8 Michael Borders of Florida, to be Assistant
Secretary of the Air Force.
• PN379-4 James Caggy of New York, to be Assistant Secretary of Defense for Mission Capabilities. • PN141-14 Kirsten Davies of Tennessee, to be Chief Information Officer of the Department of Defense. • PN129-7 Amy Henninger of Virginia, to be Director of Operational Test and Evaluation, Department of Defense
Secretary of the Navy.
• PN445-10 Maurice Todd of Florida, to be Assistant Secretary of Defense for Readiness.
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