BURLINGTON, Mass. -- Lt. Gen. Donna D. Shipton, Commander of Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, emphasized acquisition transformation and reaffirmed the Air Force’s commitment to the defense industry during the annual “State of the Center” event in Burlington, Mass. on Feb. 5.
Shipton highlighted the Department of the Air Force’s efforts to modernize the acquisition process to maintain U.S. technological superiority.
“It says a lot when the Secretary of War takes time to talk about acquisition,” she said. “We have an opportunity here to transform the way we work and accelerate.”
She added how the Department is exploring new capabilities like AI, hypersonics, electronic warfare, machine learning and autonomous systems. And not just the systems themselves, but the systems that counter those capabilities.
Hosted by the AFCEA Lexington-Concord Chapter, the annual event brings together industry, academia and other partners to discuss center initiatives and progress.
Shipton praised Hanscom AFB personnel for completing the final two deliveries of the BACN E-11A aircraft, increasing battlefield communications capabilities by 33%.
She also addressed the Pentagon’s acquisition transformation strategy, which shifts risk from acquisition timelines to operational outcomes.
“Our operators must be partners with us and accept less than perfect,” said Gen. Shipton. “You want to deliver the perfect system because they deserve it, but not when they’re taking the risk of not having it.”
Shipton emphasized the need for innovation and industry accountability as today’s Warfighting Acquisition System prioritizes speed of delivery for credible, combat-effective capabilities.
“We are moving out on getting the Department of the Air Force to a wartime footing,” said Gen. Shipton. “We are moving away from compliance-based, to a more dynamic, warfighter-focused model.”
Shipton cited the Hanscom AFB-based Portfolio Acquisition Executive (PAE) for Command, Control, Communications and Battle Management and PAE for Nuclear, Command, Control and Communications as part of the first tranche of PEOs that transitioned to PAEs.
She also underscored the importance of open system architecture to accelerate capability delivery.
“If we want to move faster, we’ve got to go open,” said Shipton.
Shipton also pointed to the Pentagon’s shift toward direct equity investments, including a recent $1 billion investment in L3Harris Missile Solutions, as a way to strengthen the defense industrial base.
“Direct equity investment creates a new paradigm where public-private capital is blended to create ‘national champions,’ allowing the Department to shape the defense industrial base,” she said. “Today, the Department is providing stable, long-term demand signals to industry, giving them the confidence to invest and expand capacity.”
Shipton said Air Force portfolios that could benefit from direct equity investments might include cloud hosting, data fusion platforms, secure communications and aircraft sustainment.
“The Air Force depends on the work we do,” said Shipton. “Together, we will build a faster, stronger and more lethal acquisition enterprise.”