Air Force advances acquisition overhaul, reclassifies executives as PAEs

The Air Force has completed the redesignation of its Program Executive Officers as Portfolio Acquisition Executives across all 17 acquisition portfolios, a move intended to push decision-making and resources closer to operational needs under a shift to a Warfighting Acquisition System.

“As we transition to a Warfighting Acquisition System, it felt absolutely essential for us to accelerate getting these authorities out to the field,” said William Bailey, the Secretary of the Air Force for Acquisition, Technology and Logistics.

The service began the transition in January with five pathfinder portfolios—Command, Control, Communications and Battle Management; Fighters and Advanced Aircraft; Nuclear Command, Control and Communications; Propulsion; and Weapons—using their experiences to guide subsequent changes across the enterprise.

As of July 4, the Air Force lists the following PAEs and headquarters locations:
– Fighters & Advanced Aircraft — Col. Tim Helfrich, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio
– Propulsion — John Sneden (SES), Tinker AFB, Oklahoma
– Weapons — Brig. Gen. Robert Lyons, Eglin AFB, Florida
– Nuclear Command, Control and Communications (NC3) — Scott Hardiman (SES), Hanscom AFB, Massachusetts
– Command, Control, Communications and Battle Management (C3BM) — Brig. Gen. Josh Williams (Announced), The Pentagon, Virginia
– Intelligence, Surveillance, Reconnaissance & Special Operations Forces (ISR & SOF) — Col. John Dayton, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio
– Cyber & Networks — Jeremy Thiele (Announced), Hanscom AFB, Massachusetts
– Bombers — Col. Tim Spaulding, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio
– Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles (ICBM) — Brig. Gen. Buck Rogers, Kirtland AFB, New Mexico
– Mobility — Brig. Gen. Leigh Ottati, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio
– Combat Readiness — Brig. Gen. Jason Voorheis (Announced), Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio
– Business & Enterprise Systems — Al Burse (SES), Maxwell-Gunter AFB, Alabama
– Training — Rodney Stevens (SES), Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio
– Electronic Systems — Lea Kirkwood (SES), Hanscom AFB, Massachusetts
– Services — MaryKate Robinson (SES), Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling, D.C.
– Presidential & Executive Airpower — Col. Jennifer Mapp, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio
– Nuclear Air Delivered — Col. Summer Clovis (Acting), Kirtland AFB, New Mexico

According to the Air Force, the redesignation decentralizes authority by mission portfolio to speed delivery of high-priority capabilities and strengthen accountability for outcomes.

“This is a monumental step forward but our work is not done. Pushing these critical decisions down to the PAE level demands a heightened commitment to delivering results and holding ourselves accountable. We [the acquisition community] must continue to be bold, to learn, and to adapt, ensuring we provide our warfighters with the decisive edge they need when they need it.”