Sustaining workforce is NDIA's top issues.

• Jurisdiction: United States
• Date: 01 April 2008
• Author: Steffes, Peter M.
• Published date: 01 April 2008
• Author: Steffes, Peter M.

* The National Defense Industrial Association identified the sustaining of the U.S. national security workforce advantage as its number one priority in 2008.

The association's board of directors approved the "Top Issues for 2008" at its semi-annual meeting in November. Replacing the depleted federal acquisition workforce continues to represent a challenge for federal agencies. Insufficient and improperly skilled employees can affect the ability of agencies to meet their mission requirements.

During the next five years, nearly 50 percent of the acquisition workforce will be eligible for retirement, some estimates show. For example, there are scores of unfilled acquisition positions at the Department of Homeland Security that could undermine that federal agencies' preparedness.

Resolving acquisition workforce issues calls for advanced recruitment processes, increased training and amended retention priorities. We face human capital concerns that must be met with revised policies along with adequate funds available to train the acquisition workforce.

This could include a government-industry acquisition professional exchange program to broaden practical experience, and...