The U.S. Army has announced the creation of the Portfolio Acquisition Executive for Agile Sustainment and Ammunition (PAE AS&A) as part of a comprehensive overhaul of its procurement processes. This initiative aims to enhance the speed and efficiency of equipment supply to military personnel in the field.
PAE AS&A will consolidate various functions previously managed by multiple offices, centralizing authority over ammunition requirements, development, testing, contracting, production, maintenance, and foreign military sales under a single entity. This streamlining is expected to translate into improved operational effectiveness and responsiveness.
The office is situated at Picatinny Arsenal in New Jersey and is headed by Major General John Reim, who serves as the commanding general at that location. His leadership is anticipated to play a pivotal role in guiding the new office towards achieving its objectives.
Assistant Secretary of the Army Brent Ingraham highlighted the significance of this development, stating that it represents a strategic shift from a program-centric acquisition model to an outcome-driven approach focused on delivering effective military capabilities. Ingraham referred to the establishment of PAE AS&A as “a significant milestone” in the Army’s ongoing acquisition reform efforts.
The new office will integrate the capabilities of the Joint Program Executive Office for Armaments and Ammunition with essential combat logistics expertise from the Program Executive Office for Combat Support and Combat Support Services. This integration aims to ensure a cohesive alignment of capabilities under the new structure.
At the inauguration of PAE AS&A, military officials were presented with live demonstrations of advanced systems, including lethal technologies and counter-unmanned aerial systems, which showcased attritable drones and the Picatinny Common Lethality Integration Kit. These advanced tools have been developed by the U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command’s Armaments Center.
Presentations during the event also addressed various topics, including advanced artillery solutions, next-generation energetics, expeditionary logistics, and improvements in supply chain systems.
PAE AS&A is one of six new portfolio acquisition executives that align with the Army Warfighting Concept, a modern military strategy designed to tackle emerging threats through multi-domain operations. These newly established centers aim to enhance decision-making processes, expedite contracting procedures, and facilitate the swift, risk-informed delivery of military capabilities on a large scale.
The other Portfolio Acquisition Executive organizations include Fires, Maneuver Ground, Maneuver Air, Command and Control (C2) and Counter Command and Control (Counter C2), and Layered Protection and Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear Defense (CBRND). Together, they represent a transformative strategy to modernize how the Army approaches procurement and logistics.
