Federal Position Descriptions
Print

Director for Operational Test and Evaluation

Director for Operational Test and Evaluation, Department of Defense
Responsibility
Management Scope

The DOD budget was approximately $576 billion for fiscal 2016. The DOD has more than 2.1 million active and reserve service members and 742,000 civilian personnel. The director for operational test and evaluation manages the Office of the Director for Operational Test and Evaluation budget of approximately $200 million.

Primary Responsibilities
  • Serves as the principal staff assistant and senior advisor to the secretary of Defense on operational test and evaluation and live-fire test and evaluation within the Department of Defense.
  • Provides independent assessments to the Secretary of Defense, the undersecretary of Defense for acquisition, technology and logistics and Congress.
  • Oversees the operation of the following subordinate organizations:
    • Air Warfare Joint Test and Evaluation
    • Land and Expeditionary Warfare/Integrated Resource Analysis Team/Test and Evaluation Threat Resource Activity
    • Live Fire Test and Evaluation
    • Naval Warfare
    • Net-Centric and Space Systems
  • Prescribes DOD operational test and evaluation as well as live fire test and evaluation policy and procedures.
  • Reviews and analyzes operational test and evaluation and live-fire test and evaluation results for each major DOD acquisition program.
  • Makes budgetary and financial recommendations to the secretary of Defense regarding operational test and evaluation.
  • Oversees major DOD acquisition programs to ensure operational test and evaluation is adequate to confirm operational effectiveness and suitability of the defense system in combat use.
  • Manages the Office of the Director for Operational Test and Evaluation budget of approximately $200 million.
  • Reports annually to Congress on operational test and evaluation and live-fire test and evaluation.
  • Serves as a member of the Defense Acquisition Board and Info Tech Acquisition Board.
  • Approves test plans for operational test and live-fire oversight programs.
  • Reports to the Secretary of Defense and Congress on programs, before full-rate production decision, with respect to:
    • Adequacy of OT&E and live-fire test and evaluation
    • Operational effectiveness and operational suitability
    • Survivability and lethality
    • Coordinates operational testing conducted jointly by more than one military department or defense agency.
Strategic Goals and Priorities
[Depends on the policy priorities of the administration.]
Requirements

• Appointed from civilian life (10 U.S.C. § 139)
• Appointed without regard to political affiliation and solely on the basis of fitness to perform the duties of the office of director (10 U.S.C. § 139)
• Background in defense industry
• Familiarity with budget oversight and government rules and processes
• Substantive understanding of scientific test design and statistical analysis techniques

Competencies

• Strong leadership and management skills
• Ability to work under high pressure
• Ability to integrate diverse missions and organizations
• Ability to work as a team

Past Appointments
  • J. Michael Gilmore (2009 to 2017) – Assistant Director for National Security, Congressional Budget Office; Deputy Director, General Purpose Programs, DoD; Division Director of Operations Analysis and Procurement Planning, DoD
  • Charles McQueary (2006 to 2009) – Undersecretary for Science and Technology, Department of Homeland Security; President, General Dynamics Advanced Technology Systems; President and Vice President of various divisions, AT&T Bell Laboratories
  • Thomas Christie (2001 to 2006) – Director of the Operational Evaluation Division, Institute for Defense Analyses; Director, Program Integration, Office of the Undersecretary of Defense for Acquisition; Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense/Deputy Director, General Purpose Programs; Director, Tactical Air Division
AGENCY

Department of Defense

Mission: The mission of the Department of Defense is to provide the military forces needed to deter war and to protect the security of our country.

COMPENSATION

Level IV $161,900 (5 U.S.C. § 5315)1

REPORTS TO

Provides independent assessments to the secretary of defense and the undersecretary of defense for acquisition, technology and logistics. Director’s reports, by statute, go directly to the secretary of defense and Congress.

SENATE COMMITTEE

Armed Services

Appointee Tracker

Check out our Political Appointee Tracker

Go to the tracker
Footnote

The Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2017 (Public Law 115-31, May 5, 2017), contains a provision that continues the freeze on the payable pay rates for certain senior political officials at 2013 levels during calendar year 2017.

More federal position descriptions