Acquisition office emerges from DNI reorg

Director of National Intelligence Mike McConnell today unveiled the new position of deputy director for acquisition within his office in a bid to speed technology development and foster more reliable systems. The move came as one of four reorganization steps, all intended to help the DNI office take charge of the sprawling intelligence community.

According to a DNI office press release, establishing the job of deputy director for acquisition is intended to “increase technological agility and better posture the intelligence community to achieve acquisition excellence, streamline acquisition policies and processes, and enhance the professionalism of the acquisition workforce.” The chief intel acquisition official will report directly to the DNI, a spokesman said.

The other three reorganization moves created a new deputy director for policy, plans and requirements, who will take over work now done by two other offices; established an executive committee with members from cabinet departments to aid planning; and designated a chief of staff within the DNI office to run internal operations and coordinate policy.

“These adjustments will result in an ODNI better able to make progress on the next stage on intelligence reform and support the needs of the intelligence community and our stakeholders,” according to McConnell’s prepared statement.

The DNI Office said that the changes would begin immediately and reach completion by mid-April.

“We are moving forward on the next stage of intelligence reform, going beyond the initial progress made to better clarify responsibilities and authorities, create a true community of professionals, radically transform tradecraft, accelerate information sharing and modernize how we do business,” McConnell said.

A DNI spokesman said his office plans to announce the names of the officials who will fill the newly created jobs in mid-April.

Wilson P. Dizard III is a writer for Government Computer News, an 1105 Media Government Information Group publication.