Description
The Department of War is undertaking its most sweeping acquisition transformation in decades, shifting the enterprise to a wartime footing to accelerate capability delivery, expand industrial base capacity, and modernize at speed and scale. The first webinar will provide updates on major reform initiatives: from the Munitions Deal Team’s efforts to eliminate contracting bottlenecks and boost production, to the Army’s implementation of the new Portfolio Acquisition Executive construct, which unifies formerly siloed functions to streamline decision-making and strengthen collaboration with industry. In the second webinar, speakers will examine how private capital, meaningful acquisition reform, and emerging technologies are converging to reshape the defense industrial base. Attendees will gain insight into how venture investment and modernized acquisition pathways are helping the United States maintain technological and industrial advantage as adversaries accelerate their own systems. Together, these webinars offer a forward-looking view of the policies, structures, and market forces redefining how the nation fields critical capabilities.
Speakers
Session 1 - Thursday, April 23, 2026
10:00 AM - 11:00 AM ET: Inside the Army Portfolio Shift: Implementing The PAE Model
The U.S. Army leads the Department of War in implementing the new Portfolio Acquisition Executive (PAE) construct, a major acquisition reform designed to streamline decisions, align formerly siloed functions, and accelerate capability delivery across six unified portfolios. This fireside chat will discuss how the Army is advancing the portfolio approach to reshape roles, improve collaboration with industry, and reduce bureaucracy to speed modernization. Tailored for both program managers and contracting professionals from government and industry, this discussion will highlight what will change, what’s working, and what the speakers expect as the new model becomes the norm.
- Danielle Moyer, Executive Director, U.S. Army Contracting Command - Aberdeen Proving Ground:
- Chris P. Manning, Deputy Portfolio Acquisition Executive, U.S. Army Command and Control
11:00 AM - 12:00 PM ET: Updates on Acquisition Reform and the Deal Team
The Department of War is pursuing its most far-reaching acquisition transformation in decades, shifting the entire system onto a wartime footing to accelerate capability delivery, expand industrial base capacity, and eliminate regulatory barriers. Building on major memorandums and strategic reforms outlined by the Secretary of War and reinforced through the NDAA FY26 focus on agility, portfolio based management, and rapid fielding of critical technologies and munitions, we have invited John Tenaglia and Pete Guinto to provide updates on ongoing acquisition reform efforts and highlight the growing impact of the Munitions Deal Team—a focused effort to remove contracting bottlenecks, accelerate munitions production, and align industry output with wartime demand signals as the Department modernizes at speed and scale.
- Peter Guinto, Senior Technical Advisor for Contract Pricing, Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment
- John Tenaglia, Principal Director, Defense Pricing, Contracting, and Acquisition Policy, Department of War
Session 2 - Wednesday, April 29, 2026
11:00 AM - 12:30 PM ET: Investing in Deterrence: The Role of Capital in Warfighter Advantage
As our adversaries accelerate their ability to develop and field new capabilities, the speed of their acquisition systems is increasingly outpacing our own. In this environment, private capital has become a critical force reshaping the defense industrial base. Venture capital, private equity, and institutional investors are driving rapid advances in AI, autonomy, space systems, and other dual-use technologies that are redefining how the nation must innovate to stay ahead. This session examines how private capital, meaningful acquisition reform, and emerging technologies are converging to strengthen industrial resilience and deliver mission-ready solutions faster than traditional pathways allow. Attendees will hear how the growing role of private capital can accelerate capability development and help the United States maintain its technological and industrial edge in a rapidly evolving strategic landscape.
- Cameron Holt, President & Founder, Holt Consulting Group, LLC
Who Should Take These Webinars
- Acquisition and contracting professionals seeking to understand the Department of War’s latest transformation initiatives.
- Program and project managers responsible for capability delivery, portfolio execution, or rapid fielding activities.
- Industry partners and defense contractors who support munitions production, emerging technologies, or industrial base expansion efforts.
- Policy, compliance, and oversight personnel who need awareness of reforms affecting acquisition processes, regulatory requirements, and wartime footing operations.
- Anyone involved in defense modernization efforts who wants insight into the Munitions Deal Team and broader acquisition reform priorities.
Prerequisites: Not applicable
What You'll Learn:
Session 1
- Identify the primary goals of the Department of War’s acquisition transformation initiative.
- Recall the purpose and focus areas of the Munitions Deal Team in accelerating munitions production.
- Recognize the key acquisition reform priorities highlighted in recent memorandums and the NDAA FY26.
Session 2
- Describe how private capital is accelerating capability development and reshaping the defense industrial base.
- Recognize how emerging technologies, such as AI, autonomy, and space systems are influencing modernization and industrial resilience.
- Understand how private investment and acquisition reform together help the United States maintain technological and industrial advantage.
Credits: 4.5 CPE/CLP credits for participation
Cost: Free-to-All
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Please note that registration will give you access to both webinars (4/23/26 and 4/29/26).
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