1. (a) Defense Acquisition University Structure.— The Secretary of Defense, acting through the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology, and Logistics, shall establish and maintain a defense acquisition university structure to provide for—

   1. (1) the professional educational development and training of the acquisition workforce; and
   2. (2) research and analysis of defense acquisition policy issues from an academic perspective.

2. (b) Civilian Faculty Members.—

   1. (1) The Secretary of Defense may employ as many civilians as professors, instructors, and lecturers in the defense acquisition university structure as the Secretary considers necessary.
   2. (2) The compensation of persons employed under this subsection shall be as prescribed by the Secretary.
   3. (3) In this subsection, the term “defense acquisition university” includes the Defense Systems Management College.
3. (c) Curriculum Development.— The President of the Defense Acquisition University shall work with the relevant professional schools and degree-granting institutions of the Department of Defense and military departments to ensure that best practices are used in curriculum development to support acquisition workforce positions.

4. (d) Cooperative Research and Development Agreements.—

   1. (1) In engaging in research and development projects pursuant to subsection (a) of section 2358 of this title by a contract, cooperative agreement, or grant pursuant to subsection (b)(1) of such section, the Secretary may enter into such contract or cooperative agreement or award such grant through the Defense Acquisition University.
   2. (2) The Defense Acquisition University shall be considered a Government-operated Federal laboratory for purposes of section 12 of the Stevenson-Wydler Technology Innovation Act of 1980 (15 U.S.C. 3710a).

(Added Pub. L. 101–510, div. A, title XII, § 1202(a), Nov. 5, 1990, 104 Stat. 1653; amended Pub. L. 103–160, div. A, title IX, § 904(d)(1), Nov. 30, 1993, 107 Stat. 1728; Pub. L. 104–106, div. A, title XV, § 1503(a)(16), Feb. 10, 1996, 110 Stat. 512; Pub. L. 107–107, div. A, title X, § 1048(b)(2), Dec. 28, 2001, 115 Stat. 1225; Pub. L. 111–383, div. A, title VIII, § 877(c)(1), (2)(A), Jan. 7, 2011, 124 Stat. 4306; Pub. L. 114–328, div. A, title II, § 214(b), Dec. 23, 2016, 130 Stat. 2048.)

Amendments

2016—Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 114–328 added subsec. (d).

2011—Pub. L. 111–383, § 877(c)(2)(A), substituted “Defense Acquisition University” for “Defense acquisition university structure” in section catchline.

Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 111–383, § 877(c)(1), added subsec. (c).

2001—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 107–107 substituted “Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology, and Logistics” for “Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Technology” in introductory provisions.

1996—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 104–106 struck out “(1)” before “The Secretary of Defense” and redesignated subpars. (A) and (B) as pars. (1) and (2), respectively.

1993—Subsec. (a)(1). Pub. L. 103–160 substituted “Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Technology” for “Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition”.

Effective Date

Pub. L. 101–510, div. A, title XII, § 1209(h)(1), Nov. 5, 1990, 104 Stat. 1667, provided that:

“Subsection (b) of

section 1746 of title 10, United States Code (as added by section 1202), shall take effect with respect to the Defense Systems Management College on the date of the enactment of this Act [

Nov. 5, 1990].”

Contractor Incentives to Achieve Savings and Improve Mission Performance

Pub. L. 114–328, div. A, title VIII, § 832, Dec. 23, 2016, 130 Stat. 2283, provided that:

“Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act [

Dec. 23, 2016], the Defense Acquisition University shall develop and implement a training program for Department of Defense acquisition personnel on fixed-priced incentive fee contracts, public-private partnerships, performance-based contracting, and other authorities in law and regulation designed to give incentives to contractors to achieve long-term savings and improve administrative practices and mission performance.”

Establishment of Initial Defense Acquisition University Structure

Pub. L. 101–510, div. A, title XII, § 1205, Nov. 5, 1990, 104 Stat. 1658, as amended by Pub. L. 105–85, div. A, title X, § 1073(d)(4)(A), Nov. 18, 1997, 111 Stat. 1905, provided that, not later than Oct. 1, 1991, the Secretary of Defense, acting through the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Technology, was to prescribe regulations for the initial structure for a defense acquisition university under this section and to prescribe and submit to the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and House of Representatives an implementation plan, including a charter, for the university structure, and not later than Aug. 1, 1992, the Secretary was to carry out the implementation plan.