PROGRAM MANAGER EMPOWERMENT AND ACCOUNTABILITY.

SEC. 853. PROGRAM MANAGER EMPOWERMENT AND ACCOUNTABILITY.(a) Strategy.—The Secretary of Defense shall develop a comprehensive strategy for enhancing the role of Department of Defense program managers in developing and carrying out defense acquisition programs.(b) Matters to Be Addressed.—The strategy required by this section shall address, at a minimum—(1) enhanced training and educational opportunities for program managers;(2) increased emphasis on the mentoring of current and future program managers by experienced senior executives and program managers within the Department;(3) improved career paths and career opportunities for program managers;(4) additional incentives for the recruitment and retention of highly qualified individuals to serve as program managers;(5) improved resources and support (including systems engineering expertise, cost estimating expertise, and software development expertise) for program managers;(6) improved means of collecting and disseminating best practices and lessons learned to enhance program management throughout the Department;(7) common templates and tools to support improved data gathering and analysis for program management and oversight purposes;(8) increased accountability of program managers for the results of defense acquisition programs; and(9) enhanced monetary and nonmonetary awards for successful accomplishment of program objectives by program managers.(c) Guidance on Tenure and Accountability of Program Managers Before Milestone B.—Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall revise Department of Defense guidance for major defense acquisition programs to address the qualifications, resources, responsibilities, tenure, and accountability of program managers for the program development period (before Milestone B approval (or Key Decision Point B approval in the case of a space program)).(d) Guidance on Tenure and Accountability of Program Managers After Milestone B.—Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall revise Department of Defense guidance for major defense acquisition programs to address the qualifications, resources, responsibilities, tenure and accountability of program managers for the program execution period (from Milestone B approval (or Key Decision Point B approval in the case of a space program) until the delivery of the first production units of a program). The guidance issued pursuant to this subsection shall address, at a minimum—(1) the need for a performance agreement between a program manager and the milestone decision authority for the program, setting forth expected parameters for cost, schedule, and performance, and appropriate commitments by the program 120 STAT. 2343 manager and the milestone decision authority to ensure that such parameters are met;(2) authorities available to the program manager, including, to the extent appropriate, the authority to object to the addition of new program requirements that would be inconsistent with the parameters established at Milestone B (or Key Decision Point B in the case of a space program) and reflected in the performance agreement; and(3) the extent to which a program manager for such period should continue in the position without interruption until the delivery of the first production units of the program.(e) Reports.—(1) Report by secretary of defense.—Not later than 270 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall submit to the congressional defense committees a report on the strategy developed pursuant to subsection (a) and the guidance issued pursuant to subsections (b) and (c).(2) Report by comptroller general.—Not later than one year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General shall submit to the congressional defense committees a report on the actions taken by the Secretary of Defense to implement the requirements of this section.