Acquisition career management in the fourth sector

Did you know that in addition to the military departments, there are more than 30 defense and field agencies? From civilians inspecting goods on the production line in a factory to those involved in the cutting-edge research needed to maintain a technological advantage in the military department, these agencies perform functions critical to the military services. They are commonly referred to as the "fourth sector. "

Who is included in the fourth sector? Fourth sector agencies include all organizational structures within the Defense Department that are not military branches or commands. From military medical services to logistics support, fourth sector agencies provide''acquisition functions for the entire Defense Department. The acquisition process includes procuring weapons, systems, and other materiel or services to meet Defense Department requirements and support military missions.

The personnel within Sector Four are integral to mission success. The Office of the Director of Acquisition Career Development plays a role in the career development of more than 28,000 civilian employees.

What does the Sector Four Agency Career Development Directorate do? The Sector Four Agency Career Development Directorate is responsible for overseeing and conducting statutory training, professional accreditation, continuing education, and career development''s acquisition team members across about 14 business areas. This includes all U.S. Department of Defense auditors and a large number of employees working in manufacturing, quality control and production, and acquisition.

The American Forces Acquisition Workforce Improvement Act: what is it? Remember the talk about acquisitions in the 1980s? About the 600-dollar hammer? And about the $1,000 toilet seat? To counter the negative publicity about acquisitions, Congress passed the Acquisition Workforce Improvement Act in 1990 to improve acquisition performance. Under the DAWIA law, the Department of Defense was required to create requirements for''education, training, and experience for each acquisition position to professionalize the workforce and use tax dollars wisely.

What is the Acquisition Workforce Development Fund? In response to increasingly complex weapon system acquisitions and a shrinking government workforce, the Acquisition Workforce Development Fund was established to increase the size and skills of the acquisition workforce. This fund is an important factor in helping to create a highly skilled and flexible acquisition workforce.

How the 4th Estate DACM supports staff

The Office of the Director of Professional Development provides civilian acquisition professionals with development opportunities through its Leadership and Talent Management Portfolios. These courses focus on developing the functional, technical, and soft skills necessary for success in the workplace. Participants often comment that these programs prepare them for leadership and help them''coping with future challenges.

Service in the armed forces is not the only way to serve in the U.S. Department of Defense - thousands of citizens directly support the war effort. The Department of Defense is making significant progress in strengthening the capabilities of its workforce and encouraging professionalism in acquisition in accordance with the National Defense Strategy. The 4th Estate DACM office continues to work toward this end.

Let's look at how the 4th Estate DACM uses its strategic resources to support a motivated, diverse and highly skilled civilian workforce:

In fiscal year 2017, it provided quota and travel funding for Defense Acquisition University training to employees''areas of fourth sector acquisition, resulting in:

• 9,784 graduates of the Defense Acquisition University
• 82 courses for which the taxpayer was not required to fund travel expenses
• Support for travel to the most cost-effective location for training

Developing leaders with competencies in national decision making requires effective talent management.The Leadership and Talent Management portfolio offered by the 4th Estate DACM office meets the Department of Defense's goals of training the acquisition workforce in a cost-effective manner. More than 1,250 people have taken at least one of the courses offered, and the results of extensive surveys have shown''positively influencing their behavior and applying what they have learned in the workplace.

The 4th Estate DACM office is constantly looking for new practices but is also spearheading a collaborative solution. As the contract officer representative for the new contract Acquisition Leadership Challenge program, the 4th Estate team has combined resources and partnerships with the Army and Air Force. Compared to the previous contract, the new contract provides significant savings to the government.

Modernization of key capabilities includes not only equipment, but also changes in the way our team is organized. The Defense Acquisition Workforce Management System is an innovative workforce management system. Based on user feedback identified in meetings with''stakeholders, several modules have been created to provide a simplified process for managing a career in acquisitions.

In conclusion

Agencies and the fourth sector field are continually evaluating their workforce in preparation for enhancing coordination and overcoming challenges. Developing a top-notch acquisition workforce is the foundation for achieving and sustaining excellence in acquisitions, which continues to be a primary goal of the 4th Estate DACM office. For more information on acquisitions within the Fourth Estate, check out the many resources provided in the links above.