DAU Alumni Association Symposium: strategies for Jointness and Interoperability.

The Defense Acquisition Alumni Association (DAUAA) held its 21st Annual Acquisition Symposium at the Defense Acquisition University (DAU), Fort Belvoir, Va., in June. Titled Jointness and Interoperability: Strategies that Really Work, the symposium combined speakers, panels, and workshops to provide participants with a meaningful understanding of the concepts and possibilities of joint program management between government agencies, the Department of Defense, and industry. The keynote speaker was John Young, assistant secretary of the Navy, research, development and acquisition (RD&A), who is also the president's nominee to the position of principal deputy under secretary of defense (acquisition, technology and logistics).

Building the Superhighway to the Future In his keynote address, Young reminded the audience that organizations must continually reinvent themselves to react to emerging challenges. He likened the process to "laying a path one brick at a time," a process that will result in a superhighway to the future, an organization that can respond in new and expanded ways to a constantly shifting environment. This building-block approach differs from traditional beginning-to-end solutions, which, while often effective in the short term, frequently became dated or obsolete and are usually proprietary.

Collaboration is mandatory to achieve this high-performing organization; the various parts must operate as joint stakeholders. Young noted that the current discrete abilities within the Services need to be meshed together, and industry must be incorporated into all stages of the process. Strategies are also needed to ensure effective relationships with allies; coalition partners must be involved in creating a truly interoperable system. System engineering approaches and open architectural systems are necessary to align all players and to create programs that are "born joint." Such commonality requires some compromise from all participants, but can produce strategies that are resourceful and offer a price advantage--a bottom line that interests everyone.

Young noted that artificial walls still exist that can interfere with developing joint capabilities: programs are still executed as stand-alone efforts; schedules remain asynchronous. "[It will be necessary] to let go of some authority, some ownership, in order to aggressively pursue interoperability," Young said. For the acquisition workforce, translating the new joint requirements process into the working details in a contract is a great challenge. Young urged the workforce to be proactive. "A legacy is being created as we go-we need to create a measured path into the desired future," he said.

Interoperability Executive Panel

An annual symposium highlight, the Senior Acquisition Executive Panel, presented a Service Perspective on Interoperability featuring Young and Claude M. Bolton Jr., assistant secretary of the Army (acquisition, logistics and technology).

Bolton acknowledged that the existing culture often impedes effective joint program management and system interoperability among components. A desire to maintain control of resources and to control all facets of a program can inhibit jointness, yet depending on others to perform tasks will ultimately create a positive synergy. In a joint atmosphere, participants must re-adjust to getting most, not all, of what is wanted. The panel agreed discipline is necessary to create commonality. Contracts must be written to incorporate jointness from the very beginning. Requisitions must be questioned: Is this requirement joint? Is the payback reasonable? Does it allow for open architecture? Necessary compromises on all sides may sometimes results in 80 percent solutions, added Young "But "80 percent joint is better than 100 percent disparate," he said.

Etherton Receives Acker Award

Frank Anderson, DAU president, presented the 2004 David D. Acker "Skill in Communication" Award to Jonathan L. Etherton, vice president for legislative affairs, Aerospace Industries Association (AIA). Named for former Defense Systems Management College professor David Acker, the award is presented annually to an individual who has promoted and communicated acquisition management excellence to the acquisition workforce. Etherton was recognized for his major role in the development and enactment of critical legislation supporting defense acquisition for nearly three decades, his expertise of key public policy and budget issues before congressional subcommittees, and his dedication to sharing his knowledge with the students and faculty at DAU.

Cavoli is a freelance writer who provides contract support to the Defense Acquisition University.