Under secretary of defense visits JIEDDO

Photo By Tanekwa Bournes | Joint Improvised Explosive Device Defeat Organization director Lt. Gen. John D. Johnson briefs Frank Kendall, the under secretary of defense for acquisition, technology and logistics, during a tour of JIEDDO headquarters in Washington, D.C., June 30, 2015. (Photo by Tanekwa Bournes, public affairs specialist)  

WASHINGTON, DC, UNITED STATES

06.30.2015

Story by Tanekwa Bournes 

Joint Improvised-Threat Defeat Agency

WASHINGTON – As the Joint Improvised Explosive Device Defeat Organization begins its transition to a defense agency, its new departmental leadership paid its employees a visit today.

Frank Kendall, the under secretary of defense for acquisition, technology and logistics, toured the facility and spoke to the JIEDDO workforce at its headquarters, personally welcoming the agency into the AT&L organization. The visit allowed JIEDDO staff to interact with Kendall and to ask questions on his perspective of how JIEDDO contributes to the department’s greater acquisition strategy.

“JIEDDO has pioneered some of the rapid and accelerated acquisition practices that are now an integral part of DoD’s acquisition system. JIEDDO’s close engagement with its operational force customers and with the intelligence community makes it a model for innovation and agility in defense acquisition.”

An example he cited was the agency’s use of challenge-based acquisition to quickly find solutions such as during its recent robotics rodeo and culvert IED challenges. Both events have been cited by the White House as examples in innovative acquisition methods promoting effective competition.

Additionally, the visit allowed Lt. Gen. John D. Johnson, JIEDDO’s director, to show Kendall various aspects of the agency’s expertise – from the intelligence analysts looking at the threat in the Operations Watch and the JIEDDO expeditionary teams who embed forward, to those focused on rapidly delivering materiel capabilities to the warfighter.

“Our workforce is empowered by information and freedom of action to think creatively, collaborate and innovate,” Johnson said. “These traits are exactly those present in the organization we are joining. It was important to expose Kendall to our workforce and see firsthand how well JIEDDO fits into AT&L.”

To highlight Johnson’s observation, during the town hall, Kendall presented a spotlight award to Pat McKinney, the Detect Ground Program integrator, for his work to improve the professionalism of the total acquisition workforce.

“It is individuals such as Pat McKinney that really make a difference in any organization,” said Kendall. “The capabilities all of you bring to the department are an important resource for the warfighter, and I’m glad to have you on our AT&L team.”

The spotlight award narrative states McKinney’s team of acquisition professionals in Detect Ground provide constant and committed programmatic oversight and resourcing to a portfolio of critical counter-IED enablers, and ensure that program managers meet their program cost, schedule, and performance requirements. His work with multiple product and threat-focused IPTs shares his knowledge and expertise across JIEDDO and the wider DoD, and ensures that the warfighter and American taxpayer are obtaining viable and valuable solutions.

This was Kendall’s first visit to the organization since the announcement to realign the agency under him March 11. Previously, JIEDDO reported to the deputy secretary of defense. Placing it under AT&L provides JIEDDO more hands-on oversight, as well as brings efficiencies to the department as JIEDDO works closely with other quick reaction capabilities.

JIEDDO is undergoing a transition process as it executes the department’s plan to completely realign it from the Army as its executive agency to USD(AT&L) as a combat support agency by fiscal year 2017.

• Date Taken: 06.30.2015
• Date Posted: 07.01.2015 16:26
• Story ID: 168825
• Location: WASHINGTON, DC, US