Alan Estevez nominated for senior DOD procurement job

Alan Estevez was nominated to be the new principal deputy undersecretary of defense for acquisition, technology, and logistics, the White House announced Sept. 21.

Estevez currently is the assistant secretary of defense for logistics and materiel readiness.

The former principal deputy was Frank Kendall, who is now the undersecretary of defense for defense acquisition, technology, and logistics. He was confirmed in that role in May.

Estevez has had a long career in the Defense Department related to purchasing. He was assistant deputy undersecretary of defense for supply chain integration from 2002 to 2006. He also worked in the Office of the Secretary of Defense and the U.S. Army Strategic Logistics Agency from 1991 to 2002. From 1981 to 1990, he worked with Military Traffic Management Command.

Defense officials are on the forefront of the buying and pricing initiatives, and other agencies are watching closely how they approach procurement in a fiscally tight environment. In 2011, DOD established the director of defense pricing, which is inside the defense acquisition, technology, and logistics office. What’s more, the Office of Federal Procurement Policy is looking to DOD’s experience for guidance on the balance of price against value in contract awards.

Estevez will need the Senate’s approval.