In his introductory remarks, DAU Vice President Dr. James McMichael discussed the origins of the forums as an outgrowth of the PMT 402 classes at DAU. The current forums seek to address relations between the program manager community and OSD leadership. “This is an opportunity for the leadership of OSD to listen to you,” Dr. McMichael told attendees.

Prefacing Mr. Kendall’s address on the Better Buying Power (BBP) implementation, Dr. McMichael illuminated the university’s role in the initiative — institutionalization. “When [Better Buying Power] is institutionalized, it becomes a way of life and that’s where DAU comes into play,” he explained. “We provide a specific form of on-the-job training that we call mission assistance.”

That mission assistance expertise will allow program managers to access best practices and resources for use in institutionalizing the principles of BBP, he noted.

Mr. Kendall provided attendees with a briefing on the current status of BBP implementation in relation to its five strategic thrusts:

1. Supporting Current Operations;
2. Mandating Affordability Requirements;
3. Improving Efficiency in Acquisition;
4. Strengthening the Industrial Base; and
5. Strengthening the Acquisition Workforce.

Mr. Kendall acknowledged the challenges related to implementing and institutionalizing BBP but stressed the need for long-term goals within its framework. “It’s going to take discipline and it needs to be done over many years, not just for a few years,” he said. “What we want are affordable, executable programs.”

BBP seeks to establish a more efficient acquisition path by aiming to eliminate some current bureaucratic obstacles and proposing to tie production costs to contract incentives. Mr. Kendall appealed to attendees’ experience and expertise for assistance in achieving these goals. “I would like you to help me on the incentive side,” he said. “Better Buying Power is a work in progress — it’s about continual improvement.”

“We are stewards of this money for the taxpayer and the warfighter,” he stated. “We should be trying to get the better business deal.”

Following Mr. Kendall’s address, Ms. Darlene J. Costello, Principal Director Portfolio Systems Acquisition and Director Naval Warfare PSA, OUSD (AT&L) moderated an afternoon Senior Panel. Speakers included Ms. Marilyn Thomas, SAF/FMB, Deputy for Budget, who provided a funding update on Will-Cost/Should-Cost; Col. Will Thomas, Joint Staff/J8, Chief, Requirements Management Division, Deputy Director for Requirements, delivering a Joint Staff/J8 Requirements overview; and Mr. David Aland, Office of Director, Operational Test & Evaluation Office, who discussed IA Metrics. The first day of the forum concluded with a dinner address on “Realism in Acquisition Programs” delivered at the Fort Belvoir Officers Club by Mr. Scott Comes, OSD/CAPE Deputy Director for Program Evaluation.

The final day of the forum consisted of morning workshops and a working lunch featuring a VTC with Mr. Kendall.