The DAU Executive Institute - Defense Acquisitions University - Brief Article

Program Manager, May, 2001 by B.A. Kausal

B.A. "TONY" KAUSAL

Over Twenty Years of Advice, Counsel, Mentoring

The Executive Institute (EI) provides the Defense Systems Management College (DSMC), and now the Defense Acquisition University (DAU), with a pool of senior executives representing both government and industry. Since 1980, over 20 industry U.S., and foreign government senior executives have worked in the EI, providing advice and counsel, and mentoring faculty staff, and students.

The EI got its start in life when [then] DSMC Commandant, Air Force Brig. Gen. William E. Thurman established an endowed academic chair to be occupied by a senior-level industry executive. Charles W. George, a retired General Electric Company executive, was the first to fill that chair. In 1981, the Office of the Secretary of Defense and the Services followed suit with each providing senior executives as chairs. Later, chairs were added for specialized functions representing the Office of Federal Procurement Policy, the Defense Logistics Agency, and other defense organizations.

In 1998, the EI took on an international flavor with the addition of its first International Cooperative Acquisition Chair, filled by a senior executive from the Korean Ministry of National Defense, Kang Haeng Jung Dr. Gertrud Humily followed him in 2000 from France's Delegation Generale pour l'Armement.

The EI also includes Visiting Professors such as Dr. Ron Fox from Harvard, and Dr. Walter LaBerge, former NATO Assistant Secretary General for Defense Support, Assistant Secretary of the Army and Air Force, and Lockheed Vice President for Corporate Operations. They provide the President and Commandant a body of expertise to investigate areas of concern and to recommend policy or process changes.

The EI members have remained a resource to be called upon by the faculty staff, and students of the College. In support of the curriculum, members have served not only as mentors to the faculty staff, and students, but also as classroom lecturers and facilitators, briefing evaluators, and subject matter experts. In perhaps their most important role, they serve as liaisons with their Services and organizations. They help clarify school issues with Services, facilitate speakers, keep track of Service acquisition policies and practices, and serve as an interface with the Service Defense Acquisition Career Managers (DACM) and Major Commands. The Industry Chair has performed a similar function, serving as an interface with industry; bringing in speakers and students; and providing industry best practices.

They also constitute the DAU President's and DSMC Commandant's "kitchen cabinet," often providing informal advice on important topics. Over the last 20 years, they have also responded to requests from the DAU and DSMC senior leadership to provide advice on a number of critical issues facing the University and the College. The results of their efforts over the years yielded several noteworthy initiatives:

* a Student Assessment Process;

* a Service Acquisition Organizations Comparison;

* a study termed the "Harvard Off-Site," to provide objectives for the College;

* a study on how to develop a "World Class" Faculty;

* a look at the acquisition culture;

* several studies of European and Pacific Rim acquisition organizations; and

* support for the Section 800 Panel.

Members of the EI also research, write, and review articles for Program Manager magazine and the Acquisition Review Quarterly journal, and serve as advisers to the DAU Military Research Fellows. At the end of each Advanced Program Management Course, they host "Service Day" where they bring in current topics on the latest "happenings" in the Services such as Alternative Dispute Resolution, New Start legislation, and Army Transformation.

Present EI chair incumbents include Frank Swofford, Industry Chair, and Dr. Gertud Humily, the International Cooperative Acquisition Chair. The Service Chairs include Joann Langston, Army; Mike Sullivan, Navy; and Tony Kausal, Air Force. The current active Visiting Professors include Ron Fox, Tom Dolan, Dr. Walter LaBerge, John Douglass, Ed Hirsch, and Bill Lukens.

For the members of the EI, their time at DAU and DSMC is a challenging assignment -- a chance to chart one's own course, yet make a major contribution to the University the College, and the Defense acquisition workforce.

Kausal is Holder of the Air Force Chair, Executive Institute, Defense Acquisition University, Fort Belvoir, Va.

EXECUTIVE INSTITUTE PERSONNEL - 1980 TO PRESENT

INDUSTRY CHAIR

1980-1981 Charles W. George

1981-1982 David Westermann

1983-1984 William N. Hunter

1987-1988 Conrad D. Babb

1989-1993 William L. Clark

1994-1998 George Krikorian

1998-present Frank Swofford

DOD CHAIR

1980-1982 John B. Walsh

2000-2000 John Wilson

ARMY CHAIR

1983-1985 Perry C. Stewart

1986-1987 Herb Puscheck

1987-1989 Joann H. Langston

1990-1991 Gary E. Tagtmeyer

1992-1994 James Brown

1995-1996 Benny Pinkley

1998-present Joann H. Langston

NAVY CHAIR

1981-1982 Dr. Jules J. Bellaschi

1982-1984 Robert Swart

1985-1986 Gerry Goldschmidt