DAU introduces online International acquisition course: basic-level training opportunity - Program Management

Program Manager, July-August, 2002 by Richard Kwatnoski

For over five years, the Defense Acquisition University (DAU) has offered a full program of international acquisition training and education at the intermediate level and beyond. Comprised of a family of international acquisition courses and continuous learning opportunities, DAU's International Program prepares the acquisition workforce for the many challenges of international acquisition programs.

Recently DAU added an online training opportunity at the entry level. This article describes the new online course and also includes information on the entire DAU International Program.

Courses

The DAU International Program includes three assignment-specific mandatory acquisition courses.

Multinational Program Management Course (PMT-202)

This course emphasizes the National Security policy of engagement by encouraging armaments cooperation and interoperability with our allies. Students develop an understanding of how to be effective in an international defense acquisition program. Key national, DoD, and Service policies on international cooperative development, production, and support are explored.

International Security & Technology Transfer/Control Course (PMT-203)

This course is a comprehensive review of security and technology transfer/control issues found in international acquisition programs.

Advanced International Management Workshop (PMT-304)

This workshop explores issues associated with international negotiation of cooperative acquisition project agreements. Specific topics include negotiation preparation, authority to negotiate and conclude, Department of Defense policies and experiences, and the role of executive departments and the Congress. Upon course completion, students are able to prepare and negotiate an international acquisition project agreement.

Continuous Learning

The DAU international acquisition continuous learning program consists primarily of two annual international seminars and a biannual forum.

International Seminars

DAU has formed strategic arrangements with Atlantic and Pacific partners. With Atlantic partners, we have conducted an annual international acquisition/procurement seminar, on a rotational basis, with defense acquisition educational institutions in the United Kingdom, Germany, and France. The Fourteenth Annual International Acquisition/Procurement Seminar--Atlantic, was held in July 2002 in Pads, France.

In the Pacific, we have a similar arrangement with defense institutions and Ministries in Australia, South Korea, and Singapore. The Fourth Annual International Acquisition/Procurement Seminar--Pacific, is scheduled for September 2002 at DAU, Fort Belvoir, Va.

International Acquisition Forum

Also at DAU, we host a biannual International Acquisition Forum for the office of the Secretary of Defense (OSD) and the Services to present and exchange views on contemporary, and sometimes contentious, international acquisition topics. DAU has hosted all 12 of these Forums since 1996, which are chaired by the OSD Director, International Cooperation. These forums receive high-level attention from OSD. Both the Under Secretary and Principal Deputy Under Secretary of Defense (Acquisition, Technology and Logistics) have occasionally presided.

New Online International Course

International acquisition training historically began at the intermediate level of acquisition courses. While entry-level acquisition workforce personnel would rarely be involved in an international program, a need existed to provide some basic-level training opportunities, especially for those unable to attend the classroom courses.

To fulfill the need for a basic-level course, the Director, Acquisition Initiatives, Office of the Under Secretary of Defense (Acquisition, Technology and Logistics), sponsored the development of an online course for acquisition workforce personnel new to the international arena. A team was formed, chaired by a representative from the Office of the Director, International Cooperation, OSD, and comprised of subject matter experts from the Services' international program offices, OSD (Policy) International Security Programs, and the DAU International Department. The contractor chosen to build the online training was Meridian Knowledge Solutions, Inc., Chantilly, Va.

The course is divided into three two-hour parts, and was based upon the OSD Armaments Cooperation Handbook. While the last official version of the handbook was released in 1996, a completely updated draft version was used to build the course, thus making it even more current than the available handbook. Although primarily intended for acquisition workforce personnel, Security Assistance and Foreign Disclosure personnel who play some role in international cooperative programs could benefit from the course as well. The International Armaments Cooperation online course prepares learners for instructor-led, classroom-based courses held at DAU, Fort Belvoir, Va. A certificate of completion is available at the successful conclusion of the course and post-test.