Following on the heels of last Friday’s blog post “Call for Nominations for the 11th Annual Secretary of Defense Performance Based Logistics PBL Award” DoD Product Support Managers are being afforded another opportunity for well-deserved recognition and acknowledgement of the important contributions they are making supporting their warfighter customers, their life cycle logistics teams, their program managers, and their Services.

On April 1, 2015, the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology, and Logistics issued a memo entitled “Third Annual Secretary of Defense Product Support Manager Award”, stating “the Product Support Manager (PSM) is a critical program position in delivering weapon system readiness affordably and effectively. In recognition of PSM accomplishments and contributions toward achieving the goals outlined in Better Buying Power, this April 1st memorandum solicits nominations for the 2015 Secretary of Defense Product Support Manager of the Year Award….Award nominations for the PSM Award Program are due September 8, 2015. Submission instructions and criteria are attached. The winners in each category will be acknowledged at the Spring 2016 Office of the Secretary of Defense Product Support Manager/Performance-Based Logistics Workshop, followed by formal presentation of the award at their command by the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Logistics and Materiel Readiness.

The memo goes on to acknowledge the important contributions the PSM makes, and highlights key requirements for this prestigious award, saying “the PSM is the Program Manager's expert on sustainment planning, responsible for implementing product support capabilities that affordably achieve the user's requirements for system availability. The award recognizes PSM contributions to controlling cost within affordability caps, promoting industry competition and innovation, and implementing effective product support strategies. The award honors outstanding PSMs in two categories: Major Defense Acquisition Programs, Acquisition Categories (ACATs) I PSM; and Major Weapon System/Other Weapon Systems, ACAT II and below PSMs. This award directly supports the Department's goal to enhance the Defense Acquisition Workforce (DAW) with relevant and realistic incentives, increased capabilities, and recognition of the PSM as an important partner in providing the very best systems for our Warfighters. It furthers the DAW vision of ‘creating a high quality, high-performing, agile DAW to achieve technological superiority and protect America's National Security.’”

This is the third year DoD Product Support Manager’s will have the opportunity to be recognized through this important Secretary of Defense-level award. In addition to this PSM Annual Award memo, details about previous award winners, as well as an extensive range of PSM-related resources and references in the PSM Policy, Guidance, Tools, and Training Repository on the Life Cycle Logistics Community of Practice (LOG CoP).