Marine Corps Establishes Portfolio Acquisition Executive to Advance Project Dynamis Acquisitions

U.S. Marine Corps established a Corps-wide Portfolio Acquisition Executive on April 10, a move set to accelerate acquisition decisions within Project Dynamis, according to Breaking Defense. Col. Arlon Smith, director of Project Dynamis, stated in an interview at the Modern Day Marine expo that the Portfolio Acquisition Executive will 'put jet fuel' on Project Dynamis, leading to actual acquisition decisions.

Smith explained that the structure of Project Dynamis was designed pre-PAE to move fast, and now it will put jet fuel on acquisition decisions. S. S. Army Soldiers worked collaboratively as part of Project Dynamis Serial 003 at Ivy Sting IV.

Marine Corps. Project Dynamis is the Marine Corps' contribution to the Pentagon-wide Combined Joint All-Domain Command and Control effort.

This effort aims to connect sensors to shooters across the entire battlespace from all services and key international partners. Project Dynamis consists of incremental events dubbed serials. These serials look at how to improve command and control using existing capabilities in new ways.

Smith stated that the new PAE structure will bridge the valley of death for capabilities by having a portfolio executive to look at capabilities, break down silos, and make decisions. He added that with fewer silos, a demonstrated capability believed ready for primetime can be elevated to the executive level for a quick acquisition decision.

Smith stated that a series of decisions on hardware and software from the serials are expected to be funded through current program of record lines.

He described the Dynamis series as an acceleration venue using mature technology or existing programs. Smith further stated that Dynamis aims to use existing funds for capabilities to inform the relevant program office how to use those capabilities differently.

“We’re in this really cool situation where we have some key leaders in place that are big idea folks, they set culture to change things, they set culture to collaborate, guys like … PAE Marine Corps … which is, for Project Dynamis, is like literally, a gift just dropped from the sky,” Smith said in the interview.

The creation of the Portfolio Acquisition Executive will help bridge gaps in testing capabilities as part of Project Dynamis, Breaking Defense reported.