Assistant Secretary of the Air Force (Acquisition, Technology, and Logistics) (SAF/AQ) is a civilian position in the Department of the Air Force that is appointed by the president of the United States and confirmed by the United States Senate. This position is established under Title 10 US Code Section 9016 and is one of five assistant secretary positions under the secretary of the Air Force. The SAF/AQ reports to the secretary of the Air Force.
Under the law, a principal military deputy serves with the assistant secretary for acquisition, logistics and technology. The principal military deputy is required to be an active duty officer with a background in acquisition and program management. If the assistant secretary position is vacant, the law permits the principal military deputy to serve up to a year as the acting assistant secretary. Of the five assistant secretary positions established by law, only the assistant secretary for acquisition, technology and logistics is required to have a principal military deputy.
Responsibilities
The assistant secretary of the air force for acquisition serves as the single service acquisition executive (SAE) and the senior procurement executive for the Department of the Air Force. They are responsible for acquisition and product support for all air force acquisition programs and manages the air force science and technology program.
The assistant secretary directs the Air Force program executive officers on matters relating to acquisition management and conduct. The PEOs are not a part of Headquarters Air Force; rather, they are organized separately, but report to the service acquisition executive.
They provide direction, guidance and supervision of all matters pertaining to the formulation, review, approval and execution of acquisition plans, policies and programs. The assistant secretary oversees $40 billion annual investments that include major programs like the KC-46A Pegasus, F-35 Lighting II, B-21 Raider, as well as capability areas such as information technology and command and control, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (C4ISR) systems.
History
The assistant secretary of the air force for acquisition (SAF/AQ) position was created in 1987 by National Security Decision Directive 219, following recommendations from President Reagan's Blue Ribbon Commission on Defense Management. The commission recommended the Department of Defense have clear lines of authority for acquisition management and outlined roles and responsibilities between the Office of the Secretary of Defense and the military departments. This move established the defense acquisition executive, the service acquisition executives for each military department, and program executive officers, who manage execution for a portfolio of programs.
In the past, similar duties and responsibilities now carried out by the SAF/AQ were performed by former offices in the Air Force Secretariat:
Special Assistant for Research and Development – September 1950 to February 1955 Assistant Secretary for Materiel – May 1951 to February 1964
Assistant Secretary for Research and Development – March 1955 to May 1977
Assistant Secretary for Research, Development, and Logistics (SAF/AL) – May 1977 to April 1987 Assistant Secretary for Acquisition (SAF/AQ) – April 1987 to ~2018 By early 2018, the assistant secretary of the air force for acquisition (SAF/AQ) was renamed to the assistant secretary of the air force for acquisition, logistics and technology, while retaining the abbreviation SAF/AQ.
Assistant secretaries of the air force (acquisition, technology, and logistics)
No.PortraitNameAssumed officeLeft officePresident appointed bySecretary served under Assistant Secretary for Research, Development, and Logistics1John J. MartinMay 1977May 1979Jimmy CarterJohn C. Stetson2Robert J. HermannJuly 1979August 1981Jimmy CarterHans Mark3Alton G. Keel, Jr.Nomination of Thomas Edward Cooper To Be an Assistant Secretary of the Air Force, Dec. 15, 1982. Cooper was initially appointed "Assistant Secretary of the Air Force (Research, Development, and Logistics)". The title changed in the course of Cooper's tenure in office.July 30, 19811982Ronald ReaganVerne Orr4Thomas E. CooperJanuary 1983April 1987Ronald ReaganVerne OrrRussell A. RourkeEdward C. Aldridge, Jr. Assistant Secretary for AcquisitionDaniel S. Rak (Acting)April 1987October 1987Ronald ReaganEdward C. Aldridge, Jr.5John J. Welch, Jr.October 1987April 1992Ronald Reagan Edward C. Aldridge, Jr.Donald Rice6G. Kim WincupMay 1992December 1992George H. W. BushDonald RiceDarleen A. Druyun (Acting)January 1993May 1994William J. ClintonMichael B. Donley7Clark G. FiesterMay 1994April 17, 1995William J. ClintonSheila WidnallDarleen A. Druyun (Acting)April 17, 1995January 26, 1996William J. ClintonSheila Widnall8Arthur L. MoneyJanuary 26, 1996February 1998William J. ClintonSheila WidnallF. Whitten Peters9Lawrence J. DelaneyApril 29, 1999January 20, 2001William J. ClintonF. Whitten Peters10Marvin R. SamburNovember 8, 2001January 2005George W. BushJames G. Roche11Sue C. PaytonJuly 21, 2006January 20, 2009George W. BushMichael WynneMichael B. DonleyDavid M. Van Buren(Acting)January 20, 2009March 2012Barack ObamaMichael B. Donley12 William A. LaPlanteFebruary 12, 2014November 18, 2015Barack ObamaDeborah Lee JamesRichard W. Lombardi (Acting) November 18, 2015 February 2016Barack ObamaDeborah Lee JamesDarlene J. Costello (Acting) February 11, 2016 March 9, 2018Barack ObamaDeborah Lee JamesDonald TrumpHeather WilsonAssistant Secretary for Acquisition, Logistics and Technology13William B. Roper, Jr. March 9, 2018 January 20, 2021Donald TrumpHeather WilsonBarbara BarrettDarlene J. Costello (Acting)January 20, 2021February 7, 2022Joe BidenJohn P. RothFrank Kendall III14Andrew HunterFebruary 7, 2022January 20, 2025Joe BidenFrank Kendall IIIDarlene J. Costello (Acting)January 20, 2025June 2, 2025Donald TrumpGary A. Ashworth (acting) Troy MeinkWilliam D. Bailey (Acting)June 2, 2025PresentDonald TrumpTroy Meink
References
John J. Martin, Robert J. Hermann, Alton G. Keel, Martin F. Chen and Thomas E. Cooper all held the title "Assistant Secretary (Research, Development, and Logistics)." Daniel Rak was the first Acting Assistant Secretary (Acquisition).
External links Air Force Acquisition website