Defense Acquisition Professionals Complete Immersive Innovation Program
October 25, 2024
ARLINGTON, Va. – The Department of Defense today announced that 20 acquisition professionals have completed the inaugural Immersive Innovation Program (IIP), a first-of-its-kind program designed to accelerate innovation within the department.
The IIP is a six-month program that embeds acquisition professionals with technology companies and venture capital firms to provide them with hands-on experience in the latest innovation methods and best practices.
“The Immersive Innovation Program is a game-changer for our acquisition workforce,” said William LaPlante, Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment. “By exposing our professionals to the cutting-edge thinking and practices of the commercial sector, we can bring those lessons back to the Department and drive innovation that will strengthen our warfighting capabilities.”
The 20 participants in the inaugural cohort represented a diverse range of acquisition specialties, including contracting, engineering, and program management. They were placed with leading technology companies such as Amazon Web Services, Google, and Microsoft, as well as venture capital firms such as Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers and Sequoia Capital.
“My experience at Amazon Web Services was transformative,” said participant Sarah Johnson, a contracting officer with the U.S. Air Force. “I learned how to think like an innovator, take risks, and move quickly to embrace new technologies.”
“I was particularly impressed with the emphasis on customer-centric design at Google,” added participant David Smith, a program manager with the U.S. Navy. “It’s a powerful approach that we can apply to our own acquisition processes to ensure that we are delivering the capabilities that our warfighters need.”
Upon completion of the program, participants will develop and implement innovation initiatives within their own organizations. The Department will also establish a community of practice to connect participants and foster ongoing collaboration and knowledge sharing.
“The Immersive Innovation Program is just one example of the Department’s commitment to investing in our acquisition workforce,” said LaPlante. “We are confident that the lessons learned from this program will have a lasting impact on our ability to innovate and deliver superior capabilities for the warfighter.”
Defense Acquisition Professionals Complete Immersive Innovation Program
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