Defense Acquisition Priorities Forum
Watch Recording

Defense Acquisition Priorities Forum

Recorded on Tuesday, December 07, 2021 9:00am-10:45am EST   Virtual, ON24

As the Department of Defense (DOD) continues its mission to develop a high-performing, agile Defense Acquisition Workforce that is empowered to deliver the best possible acquisition outcomes in support of the U.S. warfighters, implementing the latest emerging technologies and processes continue to present great challenges for DOD’s acquisition modernization efforts.

During the 2nd Annual Defense Acquisition Priorities Forum on Nov. 3rd, some of the significant leaders to the federal and industry sector will discuss the acquisition goals and strategies that DOD is focusing on to advance the world-class warfighting capabilities for our military branches. 

Christopher O'Donnell, Assistant Secretary of Defense for Acquisition (Acting) Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Acquisition (ASD-A), will deliver the keynote address for the Forum to provide a full breakdown of the top priorities that DOD is driving and how industry can help drive the speed of innovation for our government organizations. 

  • William Bailey
    William Bailey - Panelist
    Deputy Assistant Secretary (Acquisition Integration), Department of the Air Force

    William D. Bailey, a member of the Senior Executive Service, is the Deputy Assistant Secretary for Acquisition Integration, Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Acquisition, Technology and Logistics, Washington, D.C. Mr. Bailey leads the 100 member acquisition staff organization charged with planning, managing and analyzing the Air Force's $200 billion (FYDP) research and development, and acquisition investment budget. He oversees the integration of full-life cycle acquisition equities into strategy, requirements, policy, processes, funding, program execution, information technology and workforce management. These activities enable the 25,000 member Air Force acquisition corps to deliver the vital capabilities necessary to accomplish the Air Force’s core missions. Mr. Bailey graduated from the University of Notre Dame, South Bend, Indiana, in 1988 and was commissioned in the U.S. Air Force the same year. He began his career as an avionics engineer and later chief engineer in the Medium Launch Vehicles System Program Office at Los Angeles Air Force Base, Calif. Following graduation from U.S. Air Force Test Pilot School, Mr. Bailey served in a variety of test assignments including flight commander, chief engineer, operations officer, squadron commander and finally Chief of the Test Division at Arnold Engineering Development Center. He also directed the development of new technologies for the Air Force Rapid Capabilities Office as well as for the Air Force Research Laboratory. Mr. Bailey holds a senior non-rated Officer Aircrew badge. Mr. Bailey retired from active duty in 2015 with more than 26 years of military experience as an acquisition professional. He was appointed to the Senior Executive Service in 2015, serving as the Senior Materiel Leader, Advanced Combat Systems, Air Force Rapid Capabilities Office and then as Deputy Director, Air Force Rapid Capabilities Office, prior to his current position.

  • Bradley Goodrich
    Bradley Goodrich -
    Deputy Director, NavalX, U.S. Department of the Navy

    Mr. Goodrich is currently serving as a Deputy Director for NavalX, an innovation cell for the US Navy. NavalX seeks to create a more agile, connected, and collaborative US Navy that can guide stakeholders to rapidly deliver capability to the warfighter. The organization reports to the Assistant Secretary for Research Development and Acquisition (ASN RDA) and the Office of Naval Research (ONR) and seeks to bring together industry best practices to advance the US Navy in capability and culture change. Previously, from 2018 to 2020, Mr. Goodrich served as the Innovation Technical Director for the NAVSEA PEO Unmanned and Small Combatant’s Science and Technology (S&T) directorate, which serves to bridge the gap between the S&T and acquisition community and fosters a large portfolio of next generation technologies for unmanned systems, mine warfare, and affordable combatant ships. From 2014-2018, Mr. Goodrich served as the Science Director for the Office of Naval Research Global (ONRG) at the US Embassy in Santiago, Chile. While in South America, he worked with top researchers in Latin America to fund emerging scientific research and developed cooperation between the international S&T community and US academia, US industry, and US government labs. The critical program advances science globally and creates partnerships between the US and top researchers. Previously, Mr. Goodrich supported the Chief of Naval Research (CNR) and the broader ONR leadership as the International Programs Officer in Arlington, VA. The position assisted in the development and coordination, of all bilateral relationships between ONR and international partners. Preceding this detail assignment Mr. Goodrich was the Senior Engineering Manager of a $20M R&D program in NAVSEA 05T, NAVSEA’s CTO which helped transition near-term technology to the fleet. Since 2002, Mr. Goodrich has worked at the Naval Surface Warfare Center Carderock Division (NSWCCD), serving initially as an analyst in Carderock’s structures and survivability group working on LPD-17 and DDG-1000 (Zumwalt Class Destroyer). Since 2009, he has had five unique assignments away from Carderock and has since served in a variety of capacities at NAVSEA, ONR, ONRG, PEO USC and now NavalX helping to bridge the gap between science, technology, acquisition, foreign diplomacy, and transitioned systems that help create a significant technological advantage for our Sailors and Marines. Mr. Goodrich graduated from Purdue University with a BS in Mechanical Engineering. He graduated from George Washington University with a MS in Engineering Management and from Indiana University with a Masters in Public Administration, a degree focused on policy and administration in the government sector. He and his wife have the incredible children (ages 10, 10 and 8) and live in the DC area.

  • Scott Martin
    Brig Gen Scott Martin -
    Mobilization Assistant Acquisition Integration [SAF/AQX], U.S. Department of the Air Force

    Brig. Gen. Douglas Scott Martin serves as the Mobilization Assistant to the Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Acquisition Integration, the Pentagon, Arlington, Virginia. He augments leadership of the 100-member acquisition staff organization charged with planning, managing and analyzing the Air Force's $200 billion (FYDP) research, development, and acquisition investment budget. Brig. Gen. Martin oversees the integration of full life cycle acquisition equities into strategy, requirements, policy, processes, funding, program execution, information technology, and workforce management. These activities enable the 25,000-member Air Force acquisition corps to deliver the vital capabilities necessary to accomplish the Air Force’s core missions. Brig. Gen. Martin was commissioned in 1989 through the Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps. He transitioned from active duty into the Air Force Reserves in July 2001. Brig. Gen. Martin has served in a variety of positions in engineering, test and evaluation, program management and research and development at the air base wing, laboratory, program office, center, major command and air staff echelons. Prior to his current assignment, Brig. Gen. Martin served as the Mobilization Assistant to the Commander, Air Force Research Laboratory, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio. He is a member of the federal civil service and is the Chief of Operational Requirements, Development, Program Management and Policy at Headquarters Air Force Materiel Command, Wright-Patterson AFB. EDUCATION 1989 Bachelor of Science, Electrical Engineering, University of South Florida, Tampa 1993 Master of Business Administration, University of West Florida, Pensacola 1994 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala. 2001 Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by seminar 2003 Air War College, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by seminar 2007 Master’s Certificate, Leadership and Executive Development, University of Dayton, Ohio 2011 Master of Science, National Resource Strategy, Eisenhower School, Washington, D.C. 2014 Reserve Component National Security Course, National Defense University, Washington, D.C.

  • Christopher O'Donnell
    Christopher O'Donnell -
    Assistant Secretary of Defense for Acquisition (Acting) Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Acquisition [ASD-A], U.S. Department of Defense (DOD)

    Mr. Chris O’Donnell is currently performing the duties of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Acquisition. In this position, he advises the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment (USD(A&S)), the Deputy Secretary of Defense, and the Secretary of Defense on matters relating to the Department of Defense (DoD) Acquisition System, acquisition program management, and the development of strategic, space, intelligence, tactical warfare, command and control, and business systems. Mr. O’Donnell was appointed to the Senior Executive Service in August 2015. He has been involved in all phases of Department of Defense acquisition, sustainment, research and engineering since joining the defense acquisition workforce in 1984. As the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Platform and Weapon Portfolio Management (PWPM), he is also responsible for managing and analyzing major platform and weapons capability portfolios across the Department. He served as the Executive Director of the Joint Rapid Acquisition Cell (JRAC) until March 2019. He was the Staff Specialist for the Joint Ground Robotics Enterprise prior to coming to the JRAC. He started in the Pentagon as a Staff Specialist in the JRAC providing rapid responses to warfighter needs and assisting in providing equipment to the Afghan National Defense and Security Forces. He has a Mechanical Engineering BS from Clarkson University. Prior to coming to the Pentagon, he was the Head of the Acquisition and Technology Department, at the Naval Explosive Ordnance Disposal Technology Division. He led a group of scientists, engineers and technicians that develop, test, acquire and maintain equipment for the over 5,000 Joint Service Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) Technicians. He has received the Office of the Secretary of Defense Medals for Exceptional and Meritorious Civilian Service, two Navy Superior Civilian Service Awards, a David Packard Excellence in Acquisition Award, a Secretary of Defense Award for Excellence and a Naval Sea Systems Command Collaboration Award. He is married to Amy, the Deputy Technical Director at the Naval Surface Warfare Center, Indian Head. Their three children are Alan, a Virginia Tech Electrical Engineer; Calaa, Calaa, a University of Washington Architect; and Caitie, a Clemson Electrical Engineer.

  • Douglas Packard
    Douglas Packard -
    Director, Procurement Directorate and Chief of the Defense Information Technology Contracting Organization, Defense Information Systems Agency (DISA)

    Douglas Packard is the Procurement Services Executive, Defense Information Systems Agency (DISA), where he provides executive leadership and strategic guidance for the procurement of net-centric technology solutions. Mr. Packard is dual-hatted as the Chief, Defense Information Technology Contracting Organization (DITCO), an organization that generated over $5.2 billion in revenue in FY14. He is responsible for management and oversight of all organization functions. He serves as principal advisor to the DISA Director, Vice Director, and the Agency, providing executive oversight for strategic and long-range planning for contract policy and contract operations at contracting offices in the National Capital Region, Illinois, Arizona, Hawaii, Germany, and Bahrain. Mr. Packard’s previous assignments include: Director of Procurement Policy and Support, Office of the Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Army for Procurement, where he was responsible for the Army’s worldwide procurement policy and support mission; Deputy Principal Assistant Responsible for Contracting (Senior Contracting Official), U.S. Army Contracting Command, Northern (U.S.) Region, where he managed contract award and administration functions of the Region’s $2.4 billion contract portfolio, in 35 subordinate contracting offices across 30 northern states; Director of Operations and Deputy Career Program Manager, U.S. Army Contracting Command, Europe, where he managed the Command’s day-to-day procurement operations and the contracting career training and development program; and, Program Manager for Oversight and Assessment, U.S. Army Mission and Installation Contracting Command. Mr. Packard has extensive experience supporting contingency and humanitarian missions in the Balkans, Africa, Iraq, and Afghanistan. Notably, he served as the Joint Contracting Command- Iraq/Afghanistan Senior Contracting Official for Iraq Reconstruction and for Iraq-U.S. mission support, managing an $11 billion portfolio of reconstruction, Iraqi security forces development, and U.S. military forces support. Mr. Packard served as the Senior Contract Strategist on Task Force 2010, focused on combating corruption under U.S. government contracts, where he served on an U.S.- Afghan Office of the National Security Council Working Group chartered by the President of Afghanistan, and he drafted and championed a legislative initiative via the National Defense Authorization Act of FY12 to address systemic issues restricting the U.S. Government’s ability to fight corruption arising under government contracts.

  • 9:00am - 9:05am EST

    Opening Remarks

  • 9:05am - 9:40am EST

    Keynote Address

  • 9:40am - 10:40am EST

    Panel Discussion

  • 10:40am - 10:45am EST

    Closing Comments

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