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The 22nd Annual DAU Alumni Association Acquisition Symposium was held April 19-20 on the Capital/Northeast Campus of DAU at Fort Belvoir, Va. It was billed as a practical learning experience on rapid acquisition processes and models, and it lived up to expectations in all aspects. The theme of the symposium was especially timely as our nation's warfighters are currently actively engaged in combat with terrorists world-wide, with particular emphasis on Iraq and Afghanistan. They rely on acquisition leaders and managers to provide the best technology available in a short period of time.

DAUAA's vision--to bring together the best leadership and management resources for improving defense systems acquisition--drives the association and is the key rationale for holding the symposium.

Outstanding Professional Development Work

The symposium opened with Jeff McKeel, retiring president of the DAUAA, recognizing the Capital Area Chapter and DAUAA South Region Chapter for their outstanding professional development work in joint DoD-industry events. He also paid tribute to the financial and intellectual support that the DAUAA has received from corporate sponsors Boeing. Northop-Grumman, Lockheed Martin, Raytheon, and ESI International.

Keynote Address: Retired Air Force Lt. Gen Lawrence P. Farrell Jr.

Frank J. Anderson Jr., DAU president, introduced the keynote speaker, first briefly describing some of the learning awards that DAU has earned over the past several years and the role of DAU in providing an agile, integrated learning environment where acquisition work in the field merges with learning.

Retired Air Force Lt. Gen. Lawrence P. Farrell Jr., focused his keynote address on the need to use good old common sense in working program management issues, quoting Will Rogers to make his point: "If common sense is so common, how come we don't see more of it around?" Farrell stressed the need to pay attention to technology readiness levels in transitioning new technology to acquisition programs when we are trying to acquire materiel rapidly. Alluding to recent improprieties that have surfaced on some DoD programs, Farrell opined that acquisition leaders at all levels need to "just follow the rules and behave."

# posted by Medical Information : 6:35 AM