Department of Defense INSTRUCTION

DoDI 5000.02, January 7, 2015
commander of a systems, logistics, or materiel command only after the program or increment of
capability has passed Initial Operational Capability and has been approved for Full-Rate
Production or Full Deployment.
4. ASSIGNMENT OF PROGRAM MANAGERS
a. A Program Manager will be designated for each acquisition program by the appropriate
CAE. This designation will be prior to Milestone A (as the Technology Maturation and Risk
Reduction Phase is being planned) or the milestone associated with the entry phase specified by
the Milestone Decision Authority (MDA) at the Materiel Development Decision.
b. It is essential that Program Managers be defense acquisition professionals with experience
managing relevant engineering development or technology efforts, and who have a deep
knowledge of contracting, financial systems, industry perspectives, and user needs. Unless a
waiver is granted by the DAE or CAE, a Program Manager will be experienced in similar
acquisition programs and Defense Acquisition Workforce Improvement Act Level III certified in
program management. Waivers should be granted rarely.
c. A Program Manager of an ACAT I or IA program should be assigned to the position
during the period leading up to (approximately 6 months prior to) a major milestone or decision
point initiating a phase of the acquisition process. The incoming program manager should lead
the effort to have that phase approved and manage the execution of that phase. One measure of a
program manager’s performance should be the successful execution of a phase of the program he
or she planned and the MDA has approved. Program managers will be assigned for at least 4
years or until completion of the phase of the program that occurs closest in time to the date on
which the person has served in the position for 4 years.
c. By law, any Program Manager for an ACAT I or IA program assigned before Milestone B
will be assigned at least through Milestone B approval. Any ACAT I or IA Program Manager
assigned immediately following Milestone B approval will be assigned until initial operational
capability is achieved. Program Managers outside of these periods will be assigned for at least
4 years or until the completion of the phase of the program that occurs closest in time to the date
on which the person has served in the position for 4 years. Waivers for these tenure
requirements can be granted by the respective CAE if it is determined that either of the above
described periods is so long that it would not be appropriate for a single individual to serve as
Program Manager for the entire period. CAEs will assist with the collection of data on waivers
granted to assist OSD in recognizing status and trends.
d. The measure of a Program Manager’s performance should be the successful execution of
a phase that the Program Manager has submitted for approval. DoD Components should,
whenever possible, assign incoming Program Managers to programs approximately 6 months
before a major milestone so that they are responsible for approval of a plan that they will
execute. Early arrival will assist them in monitoring and, where applicable, influencing the plan
to be approved at the upcoming milestone review.
Change 2, 02/02/2017 85
ENCLOSURE 2