The US Navy has created five new portfolio acquisition executive organizations to streamline procurement, cut bureaucracy, and expedite the distribution of capabilities to warfighters.
The new offices, Industrial Operations, Marine Corps, Maritime, Strategic Systems Programs, and Undersea, formalize the portfolio acquisition executive (PAE) model as the service’s standard for managing acquisition programs.
Each PAE will serve as the single accountable office for a defined portfolio.
The military named Vice Adm. James Downey to lead Industrial Operations, Lt. Gen. Eric Austin for Marine Corps, Christopher Miller for Maritime, Vice Adm. Johnny Wolfe for Strategic Systems Programs, and Vice Adm. Robert Gaucher for Undersea.
Under the PAE model, leaders will coordinate data to balance cost, speed, and performance, prioritizing faster fielding.
They will also oversee industrial base risks, such as supply chain issues and production limits.
Each PAE will include a rapid capability cell linked to the service’s Rapid Capabilities Office to accelerate prototyping and integrate commercial technologies.
“PAEs will have direct authority … providing true cradle-to-grave control to deliver fully integrated capability,” said Jason Potter, performing the duties of assistant secretary of the US Navy for research, development, and acquisition.
Supporting ‘Golden Fleet’ Effort
According to the navy, the move supports broader defense acquisition reforms and aligns with Secretary of the Navy John Phelan’s “Golden Fleet” initiative to improve accountability and performance.
“In a time where our warfighters are on the frontline and the nature of warfare is changing at a rapid pace, the Department of the Navy needs a warfighting acquisition system that better responds to those at the tip of the spear,” Phelan said.
“Every acquisition decision ties directly to deterrence, and if deterrence fails, decisive victory.”
Parallel with the US Navy, the US Air Force is also adopting the PAE structure as it moves toward a warfighting-focused acquisition model.
Similarly, in November, the US Army established six PAEs during its own acquisition reorganization.
