On May 26, 2015, the Life Cycle Logistics career field Functional Leader, the Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Logistics and Materiel Readiness (L&MR) issued an important new memorandum entitled “Product Support Manager Career Development Roadmap.” According to the memo, the “Product Support Manager (PSM) career path framework and PSM position category description (PCD) have been developed to assist with training and assignment of life cycle logisticians. It is recognized that there is no single career path that culminates in a qualified PSM, but the combination of assignments and training an individual receives throughout their career should ensure they possess the skills and competencies identified in the PSM roadmap. To successfully achieve the expected product support and life cycle outcomes articulated in statute and policy, DoD and the Components must have the right people with the right mix of experience, expertise, leadership, training, and education assigned as PSMs. These individuals must understand how acquisition and sustainment intersect, why life cycle management is so critical, and how to design for supportability from the earliest stages of program development.”

This new memo, which was issued in response to a recommendation from the Government Accountability Office (GAO) from “GAO-14-1326 Weapon System Management: DoD Has Taken Steps to Implement Product Support Managers but needs to Evaluate Their Effects”, includes a “Product Support Manager Training, Certification, and Experience Framework” (Attachment 1)and a copy of the most current “AT&L Position Category Description (PCD)” for the Life Cycle Logistics functional career field" (Attachment 2). The memo also directly supports the Better Buying Power (BBP) 3.0 initiative to "Improve the Professionalism of the Total Acquisition Workforce." 

A copy of this DoD Product Support Manager Career Development Roadmap memo is available in the Product Support Manager policy, guidance, tools, training and resources site on the DAU Logistics Community of Practice (LOG CoP).  In addition to the memo, graphical versions of both the Army and Air Force life cycle logistics/product support manager career development roadmaps are also available as separate files.