1. U.S. Code
  2. title 10
  3. subtitle A
  4. part II
  5. chapter 87
  6. subchapter II
  7. § 1721

Collapse to view only § 1721. Designation of acquisition positions and acquisition workforce career fields

§ 1721. Designation of acquisition positions and acquisition workforce career fields
(a)Designation.—The Secretary of Defense shall designate in regulations those positions in the Department of Defense that are acquisition positions for purposes of this chapter. The Secretary shall also designate in regulations those career fields in the Department of Defense that are acquisition workforce career fields for purposes of this chapter.
(b)Required Positions.—In designating the positions under subsection (a), the Secretary shall include, at a minimum, all acquisition-related positions in the following areas:
(1) Program management.
(2) Systems planning, research, development, engineering, and testing.
(3) Procurement, including contracting.
(4) Industrial property management.
(5) Logistics.
(6) Quality control and assurance.
(7) Manufacturing and production.
(8) Business, cost estimating, financial management, and auditing.
(9) Education, training, and career development.
(10) Construction.
(11) Security cooperation.
(12) Intellectual property.
(13) Other positions, as necessary.
(c)Management Headquarters Activities.—The Secretary also shall designate as acquisition positions under subsection (a) those acquisition-related positions which are in management headquarters activities and in management headquarters support activities. For purposes of this subsection, the terms “management headquarters activities” and “management headquarters support activities” have the meanings given those terms in Department of Defense Directive 5100.73, entitled “Department of Defense Management Headquarters and Headquarters Support Activities”, dated November 12, 1996.
(Added Pub. L. 101–510, div. A, title XII, § 1202(a), Nov. 5, 1990, 104 Stat. 1640; amended Pub. L. 102–25, title VII, § 701(j)(1), Apr. 6, 1991, 105 Stat. 116; Pub. L. 105–85, div. A, title IX, § 912(f), Nov. 18, 1997, 111 Stat. 1862; Pub. L. 115–91, div. A, title VIII, § 802(b), Dec. 12, 2017, 131 Stat. 1451; Pub. L. 116–92, div. A, title VIII, § 861(d), (f)(1), (2)(A), Dec. 20, 2019, 133 Stat. 1517.)

CITE AS: 10 USC 1721

§ 1722. Career development
(a)Career Paths.—The Secretary of Defense, acting through the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment, shall ensure that an appropriate career path for civilian and military personnel who wish to pursue careers in acquisition is identified for each acquisition workforce career field in terms of the education, training, experience, and assignments necessary for career progression of civilians and members of the armed forces to the most senior acquisition positions. The Secretary shall make available published information on such career paths.
(b)Limitation on Preference for Military Personnel.—
(1) The Secretary of Defense shall ensure that no requirement or preference for a member of the armed forces is used in the consideration of persons for acquisition positions, except as provided in the policy established under paragraph (2).
(2)
(A) The Secretary shall establish a policy permitting a particular acquisition position to be specified as available only to members of the armed forces if a determination is made, under criteria specified in the policy, that a member of the armed forces is required for that position by law, is essential for performance of the duties of the position, or is necessary for another compelling reason.
(B) Not later than December 15 of each year, the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment shall submit to the Secretary a report that lists each acquisition position that is restricted to members of the armed forces under such policy and the recommendation of the Under Secretary as to whether such position should remain so restricted.
(c)Opportunities for Civilians To Qualify.—The Secretary of Defense shall ensure that civilian personnel are provided the opportunity to acquire the education, training, and experience necessary to qualify for senior acquisition positions.
(d)Best Qualified.—The Secretary of Defense shall ensure that the policies established under this chapter are designed to provide for the selection of the best qualified individual for a position, consistent with other applicable law.
[(e) Repealed. Pub. L. 107–107, div. A, title X, § 1048(e)(3), Dec. 28, 2001, 115 Stat. 1227.]
(f)Assignments Policy.—
(1) The Secretary of Defense shall establish a policy on assigning military personnel to acquisition positions that provides for a balance between (A) the need for personnel to serve in career broadening positions, and (B) the need for requiring service in each such position for sufficient time to provide the stability necessary to effectively carry out the duties of the position and to allow for the establishment of responsibility and accountability for actions taken in the position.
(2) In implementing the policy established under paragraph (1), the Secretaries of the military departments shall provide, as appropriate, for longer lengths of assignments to acquisition positions than assignments to other positions.
(g)Performance Appraisals.—The Secretary of each military department, acting through the service acquisition executive for that department, shall provide an opportunity for review and inclusion of any comments on any appraisal of the performance of a person serving in an acquisition position by a person serving in an acquisition position in the same acquisition career field.
(h)Balanced Workforce Policy.—In the development of defense acquisition workforce policies under this chapter with respect to any civilian employees or applicants for employment, the Secretary of Defense or the Secretary of a military department (as applicable) shall, consistent with the merit system principles set out in paragraphs (1) and (2) of section 2301(b) of title 5, take into consideration the need to maintain a balanced workforce in which women and members of racial and ethnic minority groups are appropriately represented in Government service.
(Added Pub. L. 101–510, div. A, title XII, § 1202(a), Nov. 5, 1990, 104 Stat. 1641; amended Pub. L. 103–160, div. A, title IX, § 904(d)(1), Nov. 30, 1993, 107 Stat. 1728; Pub. L. 107–107, div. A, title X, § 1048(b)(2), (e)(3), Dec. 28, 2001, 115 Stat. 1225, 1227; Pub. L. 116–92, div. A, title VIII, § 861(e)(2), title IX, § 902(15), Dec. 20, 2019, 133 Stat. 1517, 1544.)

CITE AS: 10 USC 1722

§ 1722a. Special requirements for military personnel in the acquisition field
(a)Requirement for Policy and Guidance Regarding Military Personnel in Acquisition.—The Secretary of Defense shall require the Secretary of each military department (with respect to such military department), in collaboration with the Chief of Staff of the Army, the Chief of Naval Operations, the Chief of Staff of the Air Force, the Commandant of the Marine Corps, and the Chief of Space Operations (with respect to the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, and Space Force, respectively), and the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment (with respect to the Office of the Secretary of Defense, the unified combatant commands, the Defense Agencies, and the Defense Field Activities) to establish policies and issue guidance to ensure the proper development, assignment, and employment of members of the armed forces in the acquisition field to achieve the objectives of this section as specified in subsection (b).
(b)Objectives.—Policies established and guidance issued pursuant to subsection (a) shall ensure, at a minimum, the following:
(1) A single-track career path in the acquisition field that attracts the highest quality officers and enlisted personnel.
(2) A dual-track career path that attracts the highest quality officers and enlisted personnel and allows them to gain experience in and receive credit for a primary career in combat arms and a functional secondary career in the acquisition field in order to more closely align the military operational, requirements, and acquisition workforces of each armed force.
(3) A number of command positions and senior noncommissioned officer positions, including acquisition billets reserved for general officers and flag officers under subsection (c), sufficient to ensure that members of the armed forces have opportunities for promotion and advancement in the acquisition field.
(4) A number of qualified, trained members of the armed forces eligible for and active in the acquisition field sufficient to ensure the optimum management of the acquisition functions of the Department of Defense and the appropriate use of military personnel in contingency contracting.
(c)Reservation of Acquisition Billets for General Officers and Flag Officers.—
(1) The Secretary of Defense shall—
(A) establish for each military department a sufficient number of billets coded or classified for acquisition personnel that are reserved for general officers and flag officers that are needed for the purpose of ensuring the optimum management of the acquisition functions of the Department of Defense; and
(B) ensure that the policies established and guidance issued pursuant to subsection (a) by the Secretary of each military department reserve at least that minimum number of billets and fill the billets with qualified and trained general officers and flag officers who have significant acquisition experience.
(2) The Secretary of Defense shall ensure—
(A) a sufficient number of billets for acquisition personnel who are general officers or flag officers exist within the Office of the Secretary of Defense, the unified combatant commands, the Defense Agencies, and the Defense Field Activities to ensure the optimum management of the acquisition functions of the Department of Defense; and
(B) that the policies established and guidance issued pursuant to subsection (a) by the Secretary reserve within the Office of the Secretary of Defense, the unified combatant commands, the Defense Agencies, and the Defense Field Activities at least that minimum number of billets and fill the billets with qualified and trained general officers and flag officers who have significant acquisition experience.
(3) The Secretary of Defense shall ensure that a portion of the billets referred to in paragraphs (1) and (2) involve command of organizations primarily focused on contracting and are reserved for general officers and flag officers who have significant contracting experience.
(d)Relationship to Limitation on Preference for Military Personnel.—Any designation or reservation of a position for a member of the armed forces as a result of a policy established or guidance issued pursuant to this section shall be deemed to meet the requirements for an exception under paragraph (2) of section 1722(b) of this title from the limitation in paragraph (1) of such section.
(e)Report.—Not later than January 1 of each year, the Secretary of each military department shall submit to the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment a report describing how the Secretary fulfilled the objectives of this section in the preceding calendar year. The report shall include information on the reservation of acquisition billets for general officers and flag officers within the department concerned.
(Added Pub. L. 110–417, [div. A], title VIII, § 834(a)(1), Oct. 14, 2008, 122 Stat. 4535; amended Pub. L. 114–92, div. A, title VIII, § 842, Nov. 25, 2015, 129 Stat. 914; Pub. L. 116–92, div. A, title IX, § 902(16), Dec. 20, 2019, 133 Stat. 1544; Pub. L. 116–283, div. A, title IX, § 924(b)(27), Jan. 1, 2021, 134 Stat. 3825; Pub. L. 117–81, div. A, title X, § 1081(a)(23), Dec. 27, 2021, 135 Stat. 1920.)

CITE AS: 10 USC 1722a

§ 1722b. Special requirements for civilian employees in the acquisition field
(a)Requirement for Policy and Guidance Regarding Civilian Personnel in Acquisition.—The Secretary of Defense, acting through the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment, shall establish policies and issue guidance to ensure the proper development, assignment, and employment of civilian members of the acquisition workforce to achieve the objectives specified in subsection (b).
(b)Objectives.—Policies established and guidance issued pursuant to subsection (a) shall ensure, at a minimum, the following:
(1) A career path in the acquisition field that attracts the highest quality civilian personnel, from either within or outside the Federal Government.
(2) A deliberate workforce development strategy that increases attainment of key experiences that contribute to a highly qualified acquisition workforce.
(3) Sufficient opportunities for promotion and advancement in the acquisition field.
(4) A sufficient number of qualified, trained members eligible for and active in the acquisition field to ensure adequate capacity, capability, and effective succession for acquisition functions, including contingency contracting, of the Department of Defense.
(5) A deliberate workforce development strategy that ensures diversity in promotion, advancement, and experiential opportunities commensurate with the general workforce outlined in this section.
(c)Key Work Experiences.—In carrying out subsection (b)(2), the Secretary shall ensure that key work experiences, in the form of multidisciplinary experiences, are developed for each acquisition workforce career field.
(Added Pub. L. 111–383, div. A, title VIII, § 873(a)(1), Jan. 7, 2011, 124 Stat. 4302; amended Pub. L. 112–239, div. A, title X, § 1076(d)(1), Jan. 2, 2013, 126 Stat. 1951; Pub. L. 115–91, div. A, title X, § 1051(a)(8), Dec. 12, 2017, 131 Stat. 1560; Pub. L. 116–92, div. A, title VIII, § 861(g)(1), title IX, § 902(17), Dec. 20, 2019, 133 Stat. 1518, 1545.)

CITE AS: 10 USC 1722b

§ 1723. General education, training, and experience requirements
(a)Qualification Requirements.—
(1) The Secretary of Defense shall establish education, training, and experience requirements for each acquisition position, based on the level of complexity of duties carried out in the position. In establishing such requirements, the Secretary shall ensure the availability and sufficiency of training in all areas of acquisition, including additional training courses with an emphasis on services contracting, market research strategies (including assessments of local contracting capabilities), long-term sustainment strategies, information technology, and rapid acquisition.
(2) In establishing such requirements for positions other than critical acquisition positions designated pursuant to section 1731 of this title, the Secretary may state the requirements by categories of positions.
(3) The Secretary of Defense, acting through the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment, shall establish requirements for continuing education and periodic renewal of an individual’s certification.
(b)Career Path Requirements.—For each career path, the Secretary of Defense, acting through the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment, shall establish requirements for the completion of course work and related on-the-job training and demonstration of qualifications in duties and tasks of the career path. The Secretary of Defense, acting through the Under Secretary, shall also—
(1) direct individuals in the acquisition workforce to maintain the currency of their acquisition knowledge and generally enhance their knowledge of related acquisition management disciplines through academic programs and other self-developmental activities; and
(2) develop key work experiences, including the creation of a program sponsored by the Department of Defense that facilitates the periodic interaction between individuals in the acquisition workforce and the end user in such end user’s environment to enhance the knowledge base of such workforce, for individuals in the acquisition workforce so that the individuals may gain in-depth knowledge and experience in the acquisition process and become seasoned, well-qualified members of the acquisition workforce.
(c)Limitation on Credit for Training or Education.—Not more than one year of a period of time spent pursuing a program of academic training or education in acquisition may be counted toward fulfilling any requirement established under this chapter for a certain period of experience.
(Added Pub. L. 101–510, div. A, title XII, § 1202(a), Nov. 5, 1990, 104 Stat. 1642; amended Pub. L. 104–201, div. A, title X, § 1074(a)(9)(A), Sept. 23, 1996, 110 Stat. 2659; Pub. L. 111–383, div. A, title VIII, §§ 873(b), 874(a), Jan. 7, 2011, 124 Stat. 4303, 4304; Pub. L. 116–92, div. A, title VIII, § 861(a)(4), (h), (j)(8), title IX, § 902(18), Dec. 20, 2019, 133 Stat. 1515, 1518, 1520, 1545.)

CITE AS: 10 USC 1723

§ 1724. Contracting positions: qualification requirements
(a)Contracting Officers.—The Secretary of Defense shall require that, in order to qualify to serve in an acquisition position as a contracting officer with authority to award or administer contracts for amounts above the simplified acquisition threshold referred to in section 3205 of this title, an employee of the Department of Defense or member of the armed forces (other than the Coast Guard) must, except as provided in subsections (c) and (d)—
(1) have completed all contracting courses required for a contracting officer (A) in the case of an employee, serving in the position within the grade of the General Schedule in which the employee is serving, and (B) in the case of a member of the armed forces, in the member’s grade;
(2) have at least two years of experience in a contracting position;
(3) have received a baccalaureate degree from an accredited educational institution authorized to grant baccalaureate degrees; and
(4) meet such additional requirements, based on the dollar value and complexity of the contracts awarded or administered in the position, as may be established by the Secretary of Defense for the position.
(b) GS–1102 Series Positions and Similar Military Positions.—
(1) The Secretary of Defense shall require that in order to qualify to serve in a position in the Department of Defense that is in the GS–1102 occupational series an employee or potential employee of the Department of Defense meet the requirement set forth in paragraph (3) of subsection (a). The Secretary may not require that in order to serve in such a position an employee or potential employee meet any of the requirements of paragraphs (1) and (2) of that subsection.
(2) The Secretary of Defense shall require that in order for a member of the armed forces to be selected for an occupational specialty within the armed forces that (as determined by the Secretary) is similar to the GS–1102 occupational series a member of the armed forces meet the requirement set forth in paragraph (3) of subsection (a). The Secretary may not require that in order to be selected for such an occupational specialty a member meet any of the requirements of paragraphs (1) and (2) of that subsection.
(c)Exceptions.—The qualification requirements imposed by the Secretary of Defense pursuant to subsections (a) and (b) shall not apply to an employee of the Department of Defense or member of the armed forces who—
(1) served as a contracting officer with authority to award or administer contracts in excess of the simplified acquisition threshold on or before September 30, 2000;
(2) served, on or before September 30, 2000, in a position either as an employee in the GS–1102 series or as a member of the armed forces in a similar occupational specialty;
(3) is in the contingency contracting force; or
(4) is described in subsection (e)(1)(B).
(d)Waiver.—The Secretary of Defense may waive any or all of the requirements of subsections (a) and (b) with respect to an employee of the Department of Defense or member of the armed forces if the Secretary determines that the individual possesses significant potential for advancement to levels of greater responsibility and authority, based on demonstrated job performance and qualifying experience. With respect to each waiver granted under this subsection, the Secretary shall set forth in a written document the rationale for the decision of the Secretary to waive such requirements.
(e)Developmental Opportunities.—
(1) The Secretary of Defense may—
(A) establish or continue one or more programs for the purpose of recruiting, selecting, appointing, educating, qualifying, and developing the careers of individuals to meet the requirement of subsection (a)(3);
(B) appoint individuals to developmental positions in those programs; and
(C) separate from the civil service after a three-year probationary period any individual appointed under this subsection who fails to meet the requirement described in subsection (a)(3).
(2) To qualify for any developmental program described in paragraph (1)(B), an individual shall have been awarded a baccalaureate degree, with a grade point average of at least 3.0 (or the equivalent), from an accredited institution of higher education authorized to grant baccalaureate degrees.
(f)Contingency Contracting Force.—The Secretary shall establish qualification requirements for the contingency contracting force consisting of members of the armed forces whose mission is to deploy in support of contingency operations and other operations of the Department of Defense.
(Added Pub. L. 101–510, div. A, title XII, § 1202(a), Nov. 5, 1990, 104 Stat. 1642; amended Pub. L. 103–35, title I, § 101, May 31, 1993, 107 Stat. 97; Pub. L. 104–201, div. A, title X, § 1074(a)(9)(B), Sept. 23, 1996, 110 Stat. 2659; Pub. L. 106–398, § 1 [[div. A], title VIII, § 808(a)–(d)], Oct. 30, 2000, 114 Stat. 1654, 1654A–208; Pub. L. 107–107, div. A, title VIII, § 824(a), Dec. 28, 2001, 115 Stat. 1183; Pub. L. 108–136, div. A, title VIII, § 831(b)(1), Nov. 24, 2003, 117 Stat. 1549; Pub. L. 108–375, div. A, title X, § 1084(d)(14), (h)(1), Oct. 28, 2004, 118 Stat. 2062, 2064; Pub. L. 116–92, div. A, title VIII, § 861(b)(1), Dec. 20, 2019, 133 Stat. 1516; Pub. L. 116–283, div. A, title XVIII, § 1883(b)(2), Jan. 1, 2021, 134 Stat. 4294.)

CITE AS: 10 USC 1724

§ 1725. Senior Military Acquisition Advisors
(a)Position.—
(1)In general.—The Secretary of Defense may establish in the acquisition workforce a position to be known as “Senior Military Acquisition Advisor”.
(2)Appointment.—A Senior Military Acquisition Advisor shall be appointed by the President, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate.
(3)Scope of position.—An officer who is appointed as a Senior Military Acquisition Advisor—
(A) shall serve as an advisor to, and provide senior level acquisition expertise to, the service acquisition executive of that officer’s military department in accordance with this section; and
(B) shall be assigned as an adjunct professor at the Defense Acquisition University.
(b)Continuation on Active Duty.—An officer who is appointed as a Senior Military Acquisition Advisor may continue on active duty while serving in such position without regard to any mandatory retirement date that would otherwise be applicable to that officer by reason of years of service or age. An officer who is continued on active duty pursuant to this section is not eligible for consideration for selection for promotion.
(c)Retired Grade.—Upon retirement, an officer who is a Senior Military Acquisition Advisor may, in the discretion of the President, be retired in the grade of brigadier general or rear admiral (lower half) if—
(1) the officer has served as a Senior Military Acquisition Advisor for a period of not less than three years; and
(2) the officer’s service as a Senior Military Acquisition Advisor has been distinguished.
(d)Selection and Tenure.—
(1)In general.—Selection of an officer for recommendation for appointment as a Senior Military Acquisition Advisor shall be made competitively, and shall be based upon demonstrated experience and expertise in acquisition.
(2)Officers eligible.—Officers shall be selected for recommendation for appointment as Senior Military Acquisition Advisors from among officers in the acquisition workforce serving in critical acquisition positions who are serving in the grade of colonel or, in the case of the Navy, captain, and who have at least 12 years of acquisition experience. An officer selected for recommendation for appointment as a Senior Military Acquisition Advisor shall have at least 30 years of active commissioned service at the time of appointment.
(3)Term.—The appointment of an officer as a Senior Military Acquisition Advisor shall be for a term of not longer than five years.
(e)Limitation.—
(1)Limitation on number and distribution.—There may not be more than 15 Senior Military Acquisition Advisors at any time, of whom—
(A) not more than five may be officers of the Army;
(B) not more than five may be officers of the Navy and Marine Corps; and
(C) not more than five may be officers of the Air Force and Space Force.
(2)Number in each military department.—Subject to paragraph (1), the number of Senior Military Acquisition Advisors for each military department shall be as required and identified by the service acquisition executive of such military department and approved by the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment.
(f)Advice to Service Acquisition Executive.—An officer who is a Senior Military Acquisition Advisor shall have as the officer’s primary duty providing strategic, technical, and programmatic advice to the service acquisition executive of the officer’s military department on matters pertaining to the Defense Acquisition System, including matters pertaining to procurement, research and development, advanced technology, test and evaluation, production, program management, systems engineering, and lifecycle logistics.
(Added Pub. L. 114–328, div. A, title VIII, § 866(a)(1), Dec. 23, 2016, 130 Stat. 2305; amended Pub. L. 116–92, div. A, title VIII, § 861(j)(9), title IX, § 902(19), Dec. 20, 2019, 133 Stat. 1520, 1545; Pub. L. 116–283, div. A, title IX, § 924(b)(28), Jan. 1, 2021, 134 Stat. 3825.)

CITE AS: 10 USC 1725