§1735 — Title 10 Armed Forces | U.S. Code

Summary

The Secretary of Defense must set minimum education, training, and experience rules for people in critical acquisition jobs. For program managers and their deputies on major and significant nonmajor programs, the rules require finishing the program management course at the Defense Systems Management College or a similar accredited program the Secretary approves, signing the written agreement called for in section 1734(b)(2), and meeting years-of-experience rules: a major program manager needs 8 years in acquisition with at least 2 in a systems program office or similar unit; a significant nonmajor program manager needs 6 years; a major deputy needs 6 years with at least 2 in a systems program office; and a deputy for a significant nonmajor program needs 4 years. Product support managers must finish all life-cycle logistics training and certification the Secretary requires, sign the same written agreement, and meet experience rules: 8 years in life-cycle logistics for major programs with at least 2 in a systems program office, 6 years for significant nonmajor programs, and those for a “covered system” must be named a key leader. Portfolio acquisition executives must finish the management course, have 10 years in acquisition with 4 years in a critical acquisition post, and have been a program manager or deputy. Generals, flag officers, or equivalent civilians need 10 years in acquisition with 4 years in a critical acquisition post before assignment. Senior contracting officials must have at least 4 years of contracting experience.

Title 10, §1735

Armed Forces — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)In establishing the education, training, and experience requirements under section 1723 of this title for critical acquisition positions, the Secretary of Defense shall, at a minimum, include the requirements set forth in subsections (b) through (e).

(b)Before being assigned to a position as a program manager or deputy program manager of a major defense acquisition program or a significant nonmajor defense acquisition program, a person—

(1)must have completed the program management course at the Defense Systems Management College or a management program at an accredited educational institution determined to be comparable by the Secretary of Defense;

(2)must have executed a written agreement as required in section 1734(b)(2); and

(3)in the case of—

(A)a program manager of a major defense acquisition program, must have at least eight years of experience in acquisition, at least two years of which were performed in a systems program office or similar organization;

(B)a program manager of a significant nonmajor defense acquisition program, must have at least six years of experience in acquisition;

(C)a deputy program manager of a major defense acquisition program, must have at least six years of experience in acquisition, at least two years of which were performed in a systems program office or similar organization; and

(D)a deputy program manager of a significant nonmajor defense acquisition program, must have at least four years of experience in acquisition.

(c)Before being assigned to a position as product support manager, a person—

(1)shall have completed all life-cycle logistics certification and training requirements prescribed by the Secretary of Defense;

(2)shall have executed a written agreement as required in section 1734(b)(2) of this title; and

(3)in the case of—

(A)a product support manager of a major defense acquisition program, shall have at least eight years of experience in life-cycle logistics, at least two years of which were performed in a systems program office or similar organization;

(B)a product support manager of a significant nonmajor defense acquisition program, shall have at least six years of experience in life-cycle logistics; and

(C)a product support manager for a covered system (as defined in section 4324 of this title), shall be designated as a key leadership position.

(d)Before being assigned to a position as a portfolio acquisition executive, a person—

(1)must have completed the program management course at the Defense Systems Management College or a management program at an accredited educational institution in the private sector determined to be comparable by the Secretary of Defense, acting through the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment;

(2)must have at least 10 years experience in an acquisition position, at least four years of which were performed while assigned to a critical acquisition position; and

(3)must have held a position as a program manager or a deputy program manager.

(e)Before a general or flag officer, or a civilian serving in a position equivalent in grade to the grade of such an officer, may be assigned to a critical acquisition position, the person must have at least 10 years experience in an acquisition position, at least four years of which were performed while assigned to a critical acquisition position.

(f)Before a person may be assigned to a critical acquisition position as a senior contracting official, the person must have at least four years experience in contracting.

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

Amendments

2025—Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 119–60, § 1803(a)(2), added subsec. (c). Former subsec. (c) redesignated (d). Pub. L. 119–60, § 1802(b)(1)(D), which directed the substitution of “Portfolio acquisition executives” for “Program executive officers” in heading, was executed by making the substitution for “Program Executive Officers”, to reflect the probable intent of Congress. Pub. L. 119–60, § 1802(b)(1)(A), substituted “portfolio acquisition executive” for “program executive officer” in introductory provisions. Subsecs. (d) to (f). Pub. L. 119–60, § 1803(a)(2), redesignated subsecs. (c) to (e) as (d) to (f), respectively. 2019—Subsec. (c)(1). Pub. L. 116–92 substituted “Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment” for “Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology, and Logistics”. 2001—Subsec. (c)(1). Pub. L. 107–107 substituted “Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology, and Logistics” for “Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Technology”. 1993—Subsec. (c)(1). Pub. L. 103–160 substituted “Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Technology” for “Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition”. 1992—Subsec. (b)(3). Pub. L. 102–484 struck out “or deputy program manager” after “program manager” in subpars. (A) and (B), struck out “and” at end of subpar. (A), substituted semicolon for period at end of subpar. (B), and added subpars. (C) and (D).

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Fulfillment Standards for Mandatory TrainingFor provisions relating to development of fulfillment standards for purposes of the training requirements of this section, see section 812(c) of Pub. L. 102–484, set out as a note under section 1723 of this title.

§1735 Education, Training, and Experience Requirements for Critical Acquisition Positions