New Podcast Focuses on COVID Task Force

Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment Ms. Ellen Lord established the Joint Acquisition Task Force (JATF) March 25, 2020, to coordinate Defense acquisition resources assisting Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) in response to the COVID-19 public health emergency.

The JATF's efforts are captured in the new DAU Podcast series, Adaptive Acquisition. This series also highlights “Powerful Examples” -- an initiative to share innovative acquisition practices across the Defense Acquisition Workforce.

This seven-episode series offers podcast listeners a convenient way to hear about the mission, challenges and actions of the JATF. The podcast documents success stories of the JATF response including the missions invested in medical resources and demonstrates the use of Agile practices during crises. DAU released the first episode January 14 and will continue to release them each Thursday through February.

• EP1: Overview of the JATF (Series Introduction)
  • Ms. Stacy Cummings, PDASD(A) and JATF Director
    Ms. Cummings discusses when, how and why JATF was stood up, its evolution, everything accomplished, and how lessons learned are being incorporated into an enduring mission within A&S.
• EP2: The Race for PPE (Product Leads)
  • Mr. Jared Viellieu (Masks) and COL Jay Shell (Ventilators)
    Highlights early JATF inception, call for volunteers, collective joint response to relatively loosely federated DoD Acquisition professionals.
• EP3: Rebuilding the Strategic National Stockpile (Support to HHS)
  • Mr. Steve Morani, JATF Deputy Directory
    JATF Role in supporting HHS in SNS role. Discusses establishment of governance structure in interagency, as well as internal DoD processes (7600s and the CSO).
• EP4: Working Across the Military (Support from the Services)
  • Maj Gen Cameron Holt, USAF
    How we leveraged USAF resources to support JATF, the industry portal; DAF ACT; use as exemplar of joint approach – mirrored by Army, JPEO…
• EP5: Lessons from Leadership (Working through a Pandemic)
  • COL Beire Castro, JATF Chief of Staff/MA
    Building an organization from scratch relying on loosely interconnected stakeholders all while teleworking; lessons on organizational design (flat), establishing processes, reporting, etc.
• EP6: A New Normal, Unifying the Interagency
  • Ms. Roxanne Banks, Deputy Director, DLA Acquisitions; Mr. David Kless, Executive Director, Operations, DLA Logistics Operations
    Understanding cooperation and agreements with HHS and FEMA, integrating procurement and industrial base expansion, approaches and best practices for succeeding as a joint agency.
• EP7: From Crisis to Steady State, An Enduring Mission
  • Mr. Brent Ingraham, JRAC Director
    Lessons learned and value of incorporating standing policy office/ putting structure into place for enduring support.