Special Operations Research, Development, and Acquisition Center's (SORDAC's)
continuing mission is to provide rapid and focused acquisition, technology, and
logistics support to the U.S. Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) and our Special
Operations Forces (SOF). USSOCOM's unique acquisition authorities enable the employment
of flexible, responsive, and unconventional means to execute agile acquisition.
As the Acquisition Executive (AE) and Director of SORDAC, my goal is to operate
a world-class acquisition and sustainment organization focused on meeting the
needs of the USSOCOM Headquarters, Special Operations Forces Component Commands,
and Theater Special Operations Commands as their acquisition organization of choice.
As stewards of the Command's most strategic maneuver asset—its acquisition
authority—my workforce of SOF Acquirers acknowledge responsibility in executing
its taxpayer-sourced operating funds. SOF Acquirers wisely, prudently, and openly
manage and spend these funds to effectively acquire goods and services on behalf
of its supported organizations.
In order to be attuned to the unique requirements of SOF and provide them with
the best equipment and capabilities, the SORDAC culture must be invigorating,
mission oriented, and slightly unconventional. To stimulate this environment,
we're building a workforce that's diverse, open to new ways of thinking, and respectful
of all ideas and opinions. People remain our most important asset.
SORDAC's focus includes four primary lines of operation: Command and Control
Structure, SOF Acquirer Workforce, SOF Acquisition Processes, and Customer Relationships.
These lines are critical elements for ensuring rapid execution and satisfaction
of the Commander's priorities.
Command and Control (C2) Structure: As the AE, I monitor and adjust,
as needed, the internal C2 relationship between myself and the Directorates and
Program Executive Offices (PEOs). In 2012, we're focusing on maturing dynamic,
inter-directorate/inter-PEO collaborative processes and teaming while improving
SORDAC internal controls and enterprise level performance measurements.
SOF Acquirer Workforce: SORDAC is recruiting, selecting, training, and
retaining a diverse workforce and capitalizing on the unique skills of our blended
military, civilian, and contractor workforce. We're maturing our internal processes
to transparently and efficiently track all personnel supporting SORDAC in a collaborative,
informative environment; leveraging and growing our internal training function,
SORDAC-University; enhancing training opportunities; and fully re-integrating
J4 back into SORDAC activities.
SOF Acquisition Processes: We're using continuous improvement processes
and tools to identify work that can be eliminated to improve the capacity of the
organization and refine best practices.
Customer Relationships: SORDAC is providing clear and transparent sharing
of program and financial information for better decision making and collaboration
across SOCOM for our customers through automated tools such as the SOF Acquisition
Dashboard and our battle-rhythm program and financial portfolio reviews. In 2012,
these practices will be extended to service acquisition activities as well as
sustainment support activities. In addition, we continue to reserve surge capacity
and acquisition agility to meet the dynamic needs of our SOF customers.
We've embraced initiatives to achieve better buying power across the SORDAC
enterprise, and we continue to shape our SOF Acquirer culture to assure our outcomes
are aligned with providing SOF with the capabilities they need. But we understand
that our success is only achieved as we move forward as a team effort; it requires
continuous and collaborative communication among the requirements, acquisition,
budgeting, logistics, sustainment, science and technology networks, and our industry
partners.
As we move forward, SORDAC remains committed to working with all our stakeholders
to ensure today's SOF operators are well equipped and confident that their aircraft,
maritime craft, intelligence and information systems, services and individual
equipment will keep them safe and are superior over all adversaries.