SDV INTERNATIONAL spends time with the new Director of Defense Procurement and Acquisition Policy (DPAP), Ms. Claire Grady, at a National Contract Management Association (NCMA) event in Washington, DC this week.
Since June 2015 Ms. Grady serves as principal advisor to the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology and Logistics (USD AT&L) and the Defense Acquisition Board on acquisition and procurement strategies for all major weapon systems programs and major automated information systems programs.
Ms. Grady has more than 20 years’ experience in major systems acquisition, having begun her professional career with the Department of the Navy as a contracting intern. She subsequently held important positions with NAVSEA and in the Office of the Chief Procurement Officer for the Department of Homeland Security and, recently, as the Coast Guard’s Head of the Contracting Activity, concluding her Coast Guard experience as its Deputy Assistant Commandant for Acquisition and Director of Acquisition Services.
Ms. Grady discussed DoD’s view on LPTA, new regulations that are evolving, training initiatives, acquisition workforce shortages, Strategic Sourcing, Category Management, and commercial pricing and commercial item issues.
The NCMA Washington, D.C. Chapter’s monthly meetings draw senior leaders, mid-level and interns from far and near within and without the federal procurement system - a wonderful opportunity to catch up with colleagues and learn how their organizations address your problems. SDV INTERNATIONAL’s President began support of NCMA in 2007, and he has held the position of Vice President during three of those years.