The Defense Department (DoD) is parceling out senior management responsibilities that had been overseen by its chief management officer (CMO) position – which was eliminated under the William M. “Mac” Thornberry National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for FY 2021.
In two memos to senior Pentagon leadership dated Jan. 11, Deputy Defense Secretary David Norquist laid out the DoD’s plans in both the short and long term. Norquist said eliminating the CMO position “presents a unique opportunity to build on and improve long-standing DoD management responsibilities and processes.”
The Pentagon will move to re-establish two positions – Assistant to the Secretary of Defense for Intelligence Oversight (ATSD(IO)), and Director of Administration and Management (DA&M).
Mark D. Dupont, currently the Senior Intelligence Oversight Official, will serve as the Interim ATSD(IO). Effective immediately, Norquist said the responsibilities, functions, and resources of the Division of Intelligence Oversight in the Office of the CMO are realigned to the ATSD(IO).
For the DA&M position, Thomas M. Muir, who currently serves as the director of DoD’s Washington Headquarters Services, will be the Interim DA&M. He will be tasked with responsibilities, functions, and resources of the Directorate for Oversight and Compliance and the Directorate for Administration and Organizational Policy in the Office of the CMO. Norquist said that Muir will submit a recommended management structure for the re-established DA&M to his office by January 15, 2021.
Norquist also tasked the Director of Cost Assessment and Program Evaluation (DCAPE) – currently Joseph R. Nogueira serves as acting director – with establishing a working group to parcel out other responsibilities previously managed by the CMO. By Jan. 15, the working group has to:
- “Develop a plan for each duty and responsibility that were previously assigned to the Office of the CMO to be reassigned to an official of the Department pursuant to the implementation requirements of section 901 (b) of the FY 2021 ND AA. The plan will address the personnel, functions, and assets (including contact resources) of the Office of the CMO, as appropriate and in alignment with [Norquist’s directions].
- Identify DoD issuances and other guidance, including charters, that must be changed to implement this direction.”
