Welcome to the Air Force Institute of Technology

SAF/AQRE asked Maj. Chris Bohn, the Director of AFIT’s Software Professional Development Program, to take the lead for a “software acquisition improvement” effort.  Maj. Bohn accepted and took the lead of this select group to explore ways to improve the acquisition of software and software-intensive systems, an effort that until now was being worked separately within the individual military services.  Recently the individual services identified the problem as being a far larger issue than any one service could handle.  The working group is made up of representatives from the Army, Navy, and Air Force.  This group has come together to combine their knowledge and find a manageable solution for the overall DoD acquisition workforce.

In late August, Maj. Bohn hosted the first joint service meeting of representatives from each of the services, as well as representatives from the Defense Acquisition University (DAU), and the Office of the Secretary of Defense – Acquisition, Technology & Logistics at the AFIT School of Systems and Logistics facilities in Kettering, Ohio.  The purpose of the meeting was to determine what lessons could be used from a similar 1990s working group, assess recent efforts, and develop a new plan of attack.

Mr. Carl Siel, the Chief Engineer of the Navy, delivered the “kick off” speech, focusing on initiatives previously developed by the Navy, as well as their latest efforts.  The discussion highlighted the value of education and training that had been recommended or mandated over the years.  Finally, the attendees worked on the development of a concise plan of attack.

The participants left with a clearer vision of both short-term and long-term goals.  Over the remainder of the year, the working group will finalize its charter and work with a select group of experts to develop the software-related education requirements for program managers.  The work of this group will eventually evolve into another effort, to develop similar education requirements for generalists and specialists in any career field also involved in the acquisition and sustainment of software-intensive systems.  These would include the career fields of program management, engineering, logistics, contracting, legal, and budgeting & finance.

While the education and training plans are far from finalized, the members of this working group agree that DAU, the Naval Post Graduate School, and AFIT all have parts to play in improving the software acquisition workforce.