The National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA) in October adopted a new program management structure for the technologies and services it acquires to answer stakeholder concerns related to transparency and to drive accountability, agency officials said this week.
The creation of program executive offices (PEOs) mirrors the Defense Department’s military services’ structure for program development, acquisition, cost, schedule, performance, and maintenance.
“Basically, think of it as an opportunity to maintain consistency in our messaging that surrounds our acquisition programs and services,” Tonya Wilkerson, deputy director of the NGA, said Nov. 15 during an industry summit hosted by the agency. “Clarity is key here. We have to be better at telling you what we need, both from the perspective of technology needs as well as for services. And that’s exactly what the PEOs intend to achieve.”
Tim Clayton, the agency’s deputy of acquisition oversight, said the new structure is also designed to “identify and clarify lines of accountability and authority” for acquisition management and decisions. He also said that “ultimately” the goal is to reduce risks to programs from overseers.
“The principal risk being that it’s hard to defend your budgets when people don’t feel that they understand how your programs are organized and what they’re delivering,” Clayton said.
PEO Technology and PEO Services both report to NGA’s component acquisition executive, a role currently being filled in an acting capacity by Celia Hopkins, to is also the acting associate director of capabilities. Mark Chatelain, NGA’s chief information officer, is the program executive officer for technology, and Kelly Pickering, the director of the Office of Contracting Services, is the program executive officer for services.
Direct program management reports to PEO Technology include Analytics Services, Data Services, Collection Services, National System for Geospatial Intelligence Sensor Integration, and MC&G Services, and Mapping, Charting & Geodesy Services. PEO Technology includes direct reports for information assurance, information technology infrastructure, corporate IT solutions, and dissemination and access services.
Direct reports to Pickering include Geospatial Data & Services, Professional Services, IT, Facilities & Construction, Human Capital, and Security & Installations.
PEO Services will “help us better manage our contracting and ensure that we are meeting the government standard for getting best value for our dollars in the services,” Clayton said.
Clayton highlighted that each program management office has sub-activities that will enable “fidelity into our program execution and requirements set as we move forward.”
There are also four program management offices that report directly to the component acquisition executive. These are the computer vision program called Maven, Compartmented GEOINT, International Services, and Counter Insider Threat.
The new PEO structure will also help NGA with its workforce development and planning, providing visibility into programs and activities for people to plan careers and develop skills, Clayton said. It will also help the agency grow its program management and technical workforce, he said.