Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition & Sustainment

Earlier this morning, Secretary Austin released a memorandum highlighting the Department's continued actions to take care of our people, including seven new initiatives to enhance the wellbeing of our Service members and their families: https://lnkd.in/ebYqgJeM ? In A&S, we are committed to continuously improving quality of life as a critical component of readiness. From establishing the Unaccompanied Housing Tiger Team and launching the DoD Housing Feedback System, to a new pilot program offering free WiFi access for enlisted personnel in unaccompanied housing, learn more below about a number of efforts underway across the Department. ? #TakeCareOfOurPeople

The Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Industrial Base Policy (OASD(IBP)) has awarded $9.5 million over three years to boost microelectronics education and training in Indiana through a partnership with non-profit Regional Opportunity Initiatives, Inc. This effort will help address workforce gaps and increase production, supporting the National Defense Industrial Strategy's focus on #supplychain resilience and workforce readiness. ? Funded through the Industrial Base Analysis and Sustainment program’s Cornerstone Other Transaction Agreement, ROI will work closely with K-12 schools, postsecondary colleges and universities, employers, and other institutions to develop and enhance the region's advanced microelectronics expertise and ecosystem. Since the beginning of FY 2024, OASD(IBP)’s Manufacturing Capability Expansion and Investment Prioritization Directorate have invested over $130 million in the defense microelectronics industrial base. ? #ExpandTheBase #NDIS #microelectronics #IBAS

Today, and everyday, we remember those lost on September 11, 2001—and especially the 184 lives taken when American Airlines Flight 77 crashed into the southwest corner of the Pentagon. "As we remember the heroes of that day — the first responders who rushed into danger, the Pentagon staff who stayed at their posts tirelessly amid the chaos, and the countless individuals who came together to offer support — we are reminded of the unbreakable spirit of the American people throughout these corridors and across this very courtyard," Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Admiral Christopher Grady said.?"Let us commit to honoring the memory of those we lost by living our lives with purpose, by serving with integrity, and by working together to build a future where such acts of violence are but a distant memory; and may we continue to honor those we lost by living with the same courage, the same strength and the same dedication that they demonstrated on that fateful day." #NeverForget #September11th

Yesterday, the United States Department of Defense announced a $4.22 million award via the Defense Production Act to Rare Earth Salts in Beatrice, Nebraska, to boost the production of terbium oxide from recycled fluorescent light bulbs. Terbium, vital for defense systems like aircraft, submarines, and missiles, is one of the rarest and hardest elements to source. "Rare Earth Salts' capability will help the United States establish a mine-to-magnet supply chain without reliance on foreign sources of material," said Dr. Laura Taylor-Kale, Assistant Secretary of Defense for Industrial Base Policy. Rare Earth Salts is among the few producers of terbium oxide outside of China and uses environmentally conscious recycling processes. This award solidifies the U.S. commitment to securing a sustainable and secure supply of rare earth elements for national defense. #ExpandTheBase #NDIS #DPA #rareearths

#DYK that more than $36 billion has been obligated on contract to procure capabilities for Ukraine or replace equipment drawn down from U.S. stocks? Learn more about U.S. security assistance provided to Ukraine, as well as the associated acquisition and industrial base actions, below. ? #SucceedThroughTeamwork

???Nearly 50 nations united at Ramstein Air Base on Friday as Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III led the 24th Ukraine Defense Contact Group (UDCG) meeting alongside President Zelenskyy: https://lnkd.in/e_C9cdmG ? Key areas of focus included: ???Strengthening Ukraine’s air defense capabilities ???Accelerating coalition nations' defense production ??? Supporting Ukraine's long-term sustainment and domestic production capacity ? Under the auspices of the UDCG, USD(A&S) LaPlante continues to lead the National Armaments Directors (NAD) in resolving procurement, production, and sustainment challenges to accelerate vital capability deliveries to Ukraine. Meeting 12 times since initially coming together in September 2022, learn more about the UDCG NADs' vital work over the last two years and the forum's direction for the future below ? ? #SucceedThroughTeamwork

The United States Department of Defense recently awarded $25.8 million under the Defense Production Act (DPA) to Honeywell in Plymouth, Minnesota, to strengthen our domestic microelectronics production capabilities. This investment secures the production of trusted microelectronics essential for radiation-intensive environments. ? “Reliable radiation-hardened microelectronics are critical to supporting the DoD’s strategic and space missions," said Dr. Laura Taylor-Kale, Assistant Secretary of Defense for Industrial Base Policy. "This project ensures components are available to meet demand for current and future U.S. systems.” ? These efforts contribute to advancing 90-nanometer technology and align with the National Defense Industrial Strategy’s goals of expanding domestic production and increasing supply chain resilience. ? #ExpandTheBase #Microelectronics

We are thrilled to welcome our Defense Civilian Training Corps (DCTC) scholars as they kick off the fall semester at #DCTC pilot universities North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University, Purdue University, University of Arizona, and Virginia Tech! As part of the #DCTC program, these scholars will engage in DoD acquisition-focused curriculum while forming strong connections within their cohorts. Through a combination of immersive classroom learning, real-world problem-solving, and project-based summer internships, they will gain valuable hands-on experience to prepare them for future success in defense and national security. We can’t wait to see all their incredible accomplishments ahead! Learn more about #DCTC here:?https://dctc.mil/??? ? #DefenseAcquisition

As we close the books on August, let’s take a moment to reflect on key A&S updates from last month! ? USD(A&S) William LaPlante contributed an article to @National Defense Magazine highlighting the Department’s effort to better align the acquisition process:?https://lnkd.in/ecfbHtw2 The United States Department of Defense and the Government of India’s Ministry of Defence signed a bilateral Security of Supply Arrangement (SOSA), marking India as the United States’ 18th SOSA partner: https://lnkd.in/e6WHf7-z ASD(S) Christopher Lowman and DASD(PS) Lisa Smith briefed the media on the Department’s Regional Sustainment Framework, which focuses on establishing a global network of regionally aligned maintenance, repair, and overhaul capabilities: https://lnkd.in/exi7PpDK The Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Acquisition held its first-ever #DCTC Summer Scholar Showcase: https://lnkd.in/eiczdEYT

Yesterday, the United States Department of Defense announced a $6.56 million award via the Defense Production Act to Montana Technological University (Montana Tech), in Butte, Montana. The award will fund the development and delivery of a critical workforce development program that will allow trainees to upskill their capabilities in metallurgical, geological, mining, and environmental engineering. The project directly bolsters the 2024 National Defense Industrial Strategy’s aim to expand support for domestic production of critical minerals and prepare the workforce for future technological innovation. “The dearth of individuals with the requisite skills in mining and metallurgy is one of the largest bottlenecks for our Nation’s ability to increase its critical mineral production capacity,” said Mr. Anthony Di Stasio, Director of the Manufacturing Capability Expansion and Investment Prioritization (MCEIP) directorate in the Office of the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Industrial Base Resilience. “With this award, Montana Tech will be able to expand its reach to help train the next generation of the critical minerals workforce.” Through DPA Title III funds appropriated by the Inflation Reduction Act, Montana Tech will create a curriculum with both online and hands-on components in multiple disciplines within the mineral extraction industry. The program will be a first-of-its-kind supporting effort for DPA that helps ensure we have a workforce in place that provides the human capital needed to fill the jobs created by direct investments in expanded capabilities. #ExpandTheBase #NDIS #DPA