DCSA - Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency
12/02/2024 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 12/02/2024 14:32
Embracing Change in Acquisition: Insights from DCSA’s second annual Acquisition Workforce Symposium
The Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency (DCSA) delivered a powerful message of transformation at its second annual Acquisition Workforce Symposium, Nov. 18.
Director David Cattler signed the agency's Call to Action establishing the Enterprise Lean-Agile Center of Excellence (LACE) which will be responsible for defining and guiding the implementation of an Enterprise Scaled Agile (SAFe) Operating Model (ESOM) aimed at enabling the efficient, secure and controlled delivery of high-quality, mission-enabling technology solutions at scale.
Senior Acquisition Advisor and Director of the Component Acquisition Executive (CAE) Staff Joe Klimavicz welcomed attendees both in-person and virtually, setting the stage for a day focused on the evolving landscape of acquisition practices.
"This year's theme is Agile Gatekeepers," Klimavicz said, emphasizing the agency's commitment to fostering agile acquisition at the enterprise level. "It's about highlighting the cultural shift that is transforming how we approach acquisitions and the progress we've made toward a more adaptive, responsive process."
Director Cattler delivered the event's opening remarks, expressing both enthusiasm and optimism for the agency's transformation.
"It's great to see the turnout for our second Acquisition Symposium," he said. "As Director of DCSA, and in my role as the Component Acquisition Executive, it is my pleasure to welcome you here today. We're excited to share with you the current and upcoming developments in acquisitions here at DCSA."
He noted that the agency is adopting SAFe Agile Methods methodologies for software development to ensure quality delivery within specified timelines and a sustainable pace, with minimal rework. "While this method applies most directly to software development, we're also embracing it across the agency as a whole," he explained. "The traditional, hierarchical, waterfall methods we've used in the past no longer meet the demand for swift value delivery and adaptation to change."
The Director then reflected on the agency's unique nature, emphasizing how different DCSA is from many other organizations he's worked with. "In all my years of service, this is the organization that most resembles a business. It's not just about software development-it's about personnel security, industrial security, and training. These functions, along with many others, have a massive impact on the agency's ability to meet its mission, and I believe they can benefit greatly from an agile approach."
Director Cattler also shared progress statistics, noting that as of November 2024, 264 DCSA employees had undergone agile training, with 178 having passed the certification exam. "This is just the beginning," he said, reinforcing the agency's ongoing commitment to developing an agile mindset at every level.
The agency's transformation is underpinned by four key pillars: Adaptability, Resilience, Collaboration and Competence. These pillars will guide DCSA's workforce as it navigates the challenges of modernization, ensuring that the agency continues to meet mission-critical needs while fostering a culture of continuous learning and improvement.
Performing the Duties of Assistant Secretary of Defense for Acquisition Gary Ashworth was the keynote speaker for the morning session and began by commending the leadership of DCSA for hosting the symposium, emphasizing the importance of such events in fostering acquisition knowledge sharing across the Department of Defense (DoD).
"It's fantastic to see such a well-organized event, especially since this is only your second symposium," he remarked. "Hosting an annual event like this really showcases the leadership's commitment to continuously improving acquisition processes and recognizing its critical role in the fulfillment of DCSA's mission."
Ashworth highlighted the importance of DCSA's core mission, particularly in the context of security. "Security is one of those missions that only becomes fully appreciated when it fails," he said, emphasizing how critical it is to the larger DoD mission. "We're facing a growing geopolitical threat unlike anything we've experienced before. From rebuilding our industrial base to strengthening personnel security, DCSA's work in these areas is vital to our national defense."
Shifting to the broader acquisition landscape, he shared his perspective on acquisition reforms, emphasizing the ongoing transformation from a program-centric focus to a more integrated, capability-based approach.
Ashworth also underscored the significance of acquisitions in supporting the National Defense Strategy (NDS). "The NDS emphasizes the need for integrated deterrence and joint capabilities," he said. "But we know this has been a challenge for decades. The key moving forward is to ensure we can deliver these capabilities faster, more efficiently, and in a more integrated manner."
On the topic of acquisition workforce development, Ashworth stressed the importance of continuous learning and upskilling. "We must prioritize training and development within the acquisition workforce. At my level, we work closely with agencies like the DAU [Defense Acquisition University] to ensure that we're providing the right tools and training to support the ever-evolving needs of the acquisition community."
Lastly, Ashworth called for greater collaboration within the DoD acquisition space. "If you're facing challenges-especially when it comes to navigating the complexities of the department-please reach out to us. We're here to help facilitate those conversations and help you get to a better place," he said, reinforcing the enablement role of the Office of the Secretary of Defense.
Next attendees received presentations from DCSA senior leadership to discuss changes in the year ahead in terms of expectations in the mission areas. Deputy Chief Financial Officer Edwin Keene, Program Executive Officer (PEO) Edward Lane, Senior Procurement Executive Scott Stallsmith and Head of the Contracting Activity Clay Socha talked about what to expect in the months ahead in each of their prospective areas.
The final speaker, and keynote address of the event was Assistant PEO and the Acquisition Innovation Director, U.S. Army, Aric Sherwood who spoke to the audience about the steps the Army had taken to become a more agile organization. Sherwood, himself, was tasked with creating a LACE which required him to first learn what that was and second take training to prepare him for the tasking. He recommended not trying to become an agile organization on your own. He said to find someone that has done it before and can lead you through the process. His advice to the group: "Start digging into it. Make those mistakes. Make them early. Learn from it and then move on to the next thing."
The symposium highlighted the critical importance of collaboration, adaptability and continuous learning within the acquisition workforce. Challenges should be viewed as opportunities, especially in acquisition, where efficiency and effectiveness are paramount. As we move forward, it is essential to prioritize skill development, nurture key partnerships and stay committed to mission success.
Director David Cattler signed the agency's Call to Action establishing the Enterprise Lean-Agile Center of Excellence (LACE) which will be responsible for defining and guiding the implementation of an Enterprise Scaled Agile (SAFe) Operating Model (ESOM) aimed at enabling the efficient, secure and controlled delivery of high-quality, mission-enabling technology solutions at scale.
Senior Acquisition Advisor and Director of the Component Acquisition Executive (CAE) Staff Joe Klimavicz welcomed attendees both in-person and virtually, setting the stage for a day focused on the evolving landscape of acquisition practices.
"This year's theme is Agile Gatekeepers," Klimavicz said, emphasizing the agency's commitment to fostering agile acquisition at the enterprise level. "It's about highlighting the cultural shift that is transforming how we approach acquisitions and the progress we've made toward a more adaptive, responsive process."
Director Cattler delivered the event's opening remarks, expressing both enthusiasm and optimism for the agency's transformation.
"It's great to see the turnout for our second Acquisition Symposium," he said. "As Director of DCSA, and in my role as the Component Acquisition Executive, it is my pleasure to welcome you here today. We're excited to share with you the current and upcoming developments in acquisitions here at DCSA."
He noted that the agency is adopting SAFe Agile Methods methodologies for software development to ensure quality delivery within specified timelines and a sustainable pace, with minimal rework. "While this method applies most directly to software development, we're also embracing it across the agency as a whole," he explained. "The traditional, hierarchical, waterfall methods we've used in the past no longer meet the demand for swift value delivery and adaptation to change."
The Director then reflected on the agency's unique nature, emphasizing how different DCSA is from many other organizations he's worked with. "In all my years of service, this is the organization that most resembles a business. It's not just about software development-it's about personnel security, industrial security, and training. These functions, along with many others, have a massive impact on the agency's ability to meet its mission, and I believe they can benefit greatly from an agile approach."
Director Cattler also shared progress statistics, noting that as of November 2024, 264 DCSA employees had undergone agile training, with 178 having passed the certification exam. "This is just the beginning," he said, reinforcing the agency's ongoing commitment to developing an agile mindset at every level.
The agency's transformation is underpinned by four key pillars: Adaptability, Resilience, Collaboration and Competence. These pillars will guide DCSA's workforce as it navigates the challenges of modernization, ensuring that the agency continues to meet mission-critical needs while fostering a culture of continuous learning and improvement.
Performing the Duties of Assistant Secretary of Defense for Acquisition Gary Ashworth was the keynote speaker for the morning session and began by commending the leadership of DCSA for hosting the symposium, emphasizing the importance of such events in fostering acquisition knowledge sharing across the Department of Defense (DoD).
"It's fantastic to see such a well-organized event, especially since this is only your second symposium," he remarked. "Hosting an annual event like this really showcases the leadership's commitment to continuously improving acquisition processes and recognizing its critical role in the fulfillment of DCSA's mission."
Ashworth highlighted the importance of DCSA's core mission, particularly in the context of security. "Security is one of those missions that only becomes fully appreciated when it fails," he said, emphasizing how critical it is to the larger DoD mission. "We're facing a growing geopolitical threat unlike anything we've experienced before. From rebuilding our industrial base to strengthening personnel security, DCSA's work in these areas is vital to our national defense."
Shifting to the broader acquisition landscape, he shared his perspective on acquisition reforms, emphasizing the ongoing transformation from a program-centric focus to a more integrated, capability-based approach.
Ashworth also underscored the significance of acquisitions in supporting the National Defense Strategy (NDS). "The NDS emphasizes the need for integrated deterrence and joint capabilities," he said. "But we know this has been a challenge for decades. The key moving forward is to ensure we can deliver these capabilities faster, more efficiently, and in a more integrated manner."
On the topic of acquisition workforce development, Ashworth stressed the importance of continuous learning and upskilling. "We must prioritize training and development within the acquisition workforce. At my level, we work closely with agencies like the DAU [Defense Acquisition University] to ensure that we're providing the right tools and training to support the ever-evolving needs of the acquisition community."
Lastly, Ashworth called for greater collaboration within the DoD acquisition space. "If you're facing challenges-especially when it comes to navigating the complexities of the department-please reach out to us. We're here to help facilitate those conversations and help you get to a better place," he said, reinforcing the enablement role of the Office of the Secretary of Defense.
Next attendees received presentations from DCSA senior leadership to discuss changes in the year ahead in terms of expectations in the mission areas. Deputy Chief Financial Officer Edwin Keene, Program Executive Officer (PEO) Edward Lane, Senior Procurement Executive Scott Stallsmith and Head of the Contracting Activity Clay Socha talked about what to expect in the months ahead in each of their prospective areas.
The final speaker, and keynote address of the event was Assistant PEO and the Acquisition Innovation Director, U.S. Army, Aric Sherwood who spoke to the audience about the steps the Army had taken to become a more agile organization. Sherwood, himself, was tasked with creating a LACE which required him to first learn what that was and second take training to prepare him for the tasking. He recommended not trying to become an agile organization on your own. He said to find someone that has done it before and can lead you through the process. His advice to the group: "Start digging into it. Make those mistakes. Make them early. Learn from it and then move on to the next thing."
The symposium highlighted the critical importance of collaboration, adaptability and continuous learning within the acquisition workforce. Challenges should be viewed as opportunities, especially in acquisition, where efficiency and effectiveness are paramount. As we move forward, it is essential to prioritize skill development, nurture key partnerships and stay committed to mission success.