Defence Magazine

The Eighth Australia – United States (US) Ministerial Defence Acquisition Committee (ADAC) was hosted by the Chief Executive Officer Defence Materiel Organisation (DMO), Dr Steve Gumley, in Perth from 5 to 8 March. This year's ADAC was timely in that it followed a month after the release of the US Defense Department's Quadrennial Defense Review (QDR). The committee was co-chaired by Dr Gumley and his US counterpart, the Undersecretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology and Logistics, the Hon. Ken Krieg.

ADAC is a high-level strategic meeting, which is annually alternated between Australia and the United States. It is a gathering of senior-level representatives from the Australian Department of Defence and their respective counterparts from the US Defense and State departments. ADAC's purpose is to discuss matters of mutual interest, including acquisition, research and development, interoperability, logistic support and export policy.

Attended by a group of 80 delegates including the Secretary of Defence, Mr Ric Smith, the meeting opened with Dr Gumley and Mr Krieg recognising the special nature of the defence relationship between the two countries as well as the importance of ADAC in strengthening those relationships.

Dr Gumley remarked that ADAC provides a unique environment for engagement and stressed its importance for major projects such as the Joint Strike Fighter (JSF), Airborne Early Warning and Control (AEWC) and Air Warfare Destroyer (AWD). 'It's a strategic-level forum where I can talk one-on-one with my counterpart and discuss ways to collaborate on matters that are important to both our countries as well as the progress to date and roadblocks in the system. This will ultimately translate to improved capability and interoperability in our platforms and systems and provide better support for the ADF [Australian Defence Force],' he commented.

Acquisition reform was a central theme in both co-chairs' presentations. Mr Krieg provided an overview of the QDR. He discussed the strategic challenges faced by the US Acquisition, Technology and Logistics organisation in identifying and implementing more effective business practices and principles needed in his organisation to deliver on the QDR's objectives.

In many ways, the Undersecretary's thoughts on 'reshaping the Defense enterprise' in order that it deliver better outcomes for the Warfighter by means of a business-focused approach reflects Dr Gumley's philosophy in instituting his acquisition reforms of the DMO—on which he provided a progress report.

Other reports presented at ADAC included those from the five working groups that were established under the ADAC framework to progress ADAC priorities at the working level throughout the year. These working groups are in the main areas of mutual interest and include the Acquisition, Technology and Development Working Group; the Requirements Harmonisation Working Group; the Logistics Working Group; the Electronic Warfare Working Group; and the Special Programs Working Group. Ongoing progress reports were also presented from the three Service-to-Service acquisition forums, namely the Air Senior National Representatives; the Senior National Representative (Army); and the Navy Senior Acquisition Review.

The ADAC meeting was complemented by an orientation program of Western Australia's defence and marine industry. As part of the program, a tour was organised to HMAS Stirling, where the group visited the MK 48 torpedo maintenance facility, the Defence Science and Technology Organisation's research laboratories, and the submarines HMAS Collins and HMAS Rankin. Site visits to the Australian Marine Complex and to the Western Australian shipbuilder Austal provided the group with exposure to some of the state's industrial capabilities.

Mr Krieg was appreciative of the entire program and commented that it had 'raised the bar' for all future ADACs in terms of content, format and hospitality shown by the Australians. He thanked Dr Gumley for this year's ADAC program.

ADAC was established in 1998 under an AUSMIN charter and submits a formal progress report to the AUSMIN forum each year. The next ADAC is scheduled in February 2007 at Orlando, Florida.

Dr Stephen Gumley, Chief Executive Officer, Defence Materiel Organisation.
Photo by DMO

Undersecretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology and Logistics the Hon. Ken Krieg.
Photo by Scott E. Davis, U.S. Army

Defence

Defence Materiel Organisation

Defence cooperation invigorated