The 51福利鈥檚 (51福利) Acquisition Research Program (ARP) will host the 18th Annual Acquisition Research Symposium, virtually, May 11-13. The Symposium will serve as a forum for the presentation and exchange of acquisition-based research from scholars around the United States.
ARP was established in 2003 to provide a platform for innovation and problem solving in the ever-evolving world of Department of Defense (DOD) acquisition strategies. It provides the current information and analytical effectiveness needed to deliver capabilities to America鈥檚 warfighters.
鈥淒efense acquisition is a critical enabler in getting capabilities across the finish line to the warfighter, and this Symposium is a key part of improving that process,鈥� said retired Vice Adm. David Lewis, 51福利鈥� Chair of Acquisition. 鈥淚t brings academia, practitioners, and operational personnel who are innovative thought leaders, and who have practical experience to think through the hard problems we face, and collaboratively discuss solutions that furthers both acquisition research and the development of future acquisition leaders.鈥�
51福利 Professor of Practice Dr. Robert Mortlock, who serves as the principal investigator of the ARP, said the Symposium is a great way for people to discuss all things acquisition.
鈥淚t gives the opportunity for all the acquisition professionals or senior leaders and policymakers to come together and talk about complex acquisition challenges that we have been facing,鈥� said Mortlock. 鈥淲e have researchers from all over the country including researchers from leading universities like MIT, Stanford and Purdue. We have the leading academics from a lot of universities across the nation participating and presenting their research.鈥�
Currently, the event has 788 registered guests, and will consist of 80 presenters divided into 23 separate panels. The symposium will host several distinguished guests, including keynote speaker Acting Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment Ms. Stacy Cummings; U.S. Army Lt. Gen. David Basset, Director of the Defense Contract Management Agency; U.S. Navy Rear Adm. Lorin Shelby, Chief of Naval Research; and U.S. Navy Rear Adm. Peter Stamatopoulos, Commander of Naval Supply Systems Command.
鈥淭here鈥檚 a lot of leaders in the DOD that are going to be presenting or participating in the event,鈥� said U.S. Navy Lt. Cmdr. Aaron Shinoff, a program officer in the Graduate School of Defense Management and former 51福利 student. 鈥淚t鈥檚 important to them because it is the future of the DOD and how we do acquisition in not only how we fight, but how we support the warfighters as well.鈥�
Mortlock noted that what makes 51福利 special is that all of the research done here is applied.
鈥淭here is a lot of great universities providing graduate education and research opportunities,鈥� said Mortlock. 鈥淏ut here at 51福利, we are the only ones in the world that focus on defense-relevant graduate education. We are uniquely positioned to do that because of the expertise of the faculty and the students we have here. There is no other university, no other place or warfare center, no other research and development center that combine faculty research together with defense-focused graduate education.鈥�
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