---
kind: "section"
citation: "10 U.S.C. § 1732"
title: "10"
title_heading: "Armed Forces"
number: "1732"
heading: "Portfolio acquisition executive"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/10/1732"
units:
  - "Subtitle A — General Military Law"
  - "Part II — Personnel"
  - "Chapter 87 — Defense Acquisition Workforce"
  - "Subchapter III — Critical Acquisition Positions"
---

# §1732. Portfolio acquisition executive

- (a) **In General.—** A [portfolio acquisition executive](/usc/10/1737.md?p=a-4) is the senior acquisition official designated by the [component](/usc/10/3011.md?p=13) acquisition executive or the [service acquisition executive](/usc/10/101.md?p=a-10) of the [military](/usc/10/801.md?p=8) [department](/usc/10/101.md?p=a-6) concerned, as applicable, to lead a portfolio of capabilities, with authority for plans, budgets, and execution of [programs](/usc/10/2101.md?p=1) assigned to the portfolio, including life-cycle management.
- (b) **Reporting Relationships.—** To ensure streamlined accountability for management, the following relationships shall apply:
  - (1) Each [program manager](/usc/10/1737.md?p=a-1) (as defined in [section 1737 of this title](/usc/10/1737.md)) for a defense acquisition [program](/usc/10/2101.md?p=1) shall report directly to the [portfolio acquisition executive](/usc/10/1737.md?p=a-4) for such [program](/usc/10/2101.md?p=1) unless otherwise directed by the [component](/usc/10/3011.md?p=13) acquisition executive or [service acquisition executive](/usc/10/101.md?p=a-10) of the [military](/usc/10/801.md?p=8) [department](/usc/10/101.md?p=a-6) concerned (as applicable).
  - (2) Each [portfolio acquisition executive](/usc/10/1737.md?p=a-4) shall report directly to the [component](/usc/10/3011.md?p=13) acquisition executive or the [service acquisition executive](/usc/10/101.md?p=a-10) of the [military](/usc/10/801.md?p=8) [department](/usc/10/101.md?p=a-6) concerned (as applicable).
  - (3) The [component](/usc/10/3011.md?p=13) acquisition executive or [service acquisition executive](/usc/10/101.md?p=a-10) of the [military](/usc/10/801.md?p=8) [department](/usc/10/101.md?p=a-6) concerned (as applicable) shall oversee the designation of, performance of, and resource allocation for all [portfolio acquisition executives](/usc/10/1737.md?p=a-4).
- (c) **Responsibilities.—** For the defense acquisition [programs](/usc/10/2101.md?p=1) assigned to a [portfolio acquisition executive](/usc/10/1737.md?p=a-4), such [portfolio acquisition executive](/usc/10/1737.md?p=a-4) shall—
  - (1) ensure that activities carried out under such [programs](/usc/10/2101.md?p=1) are aligned with, and are conducted in a manner that supports, the objectives of the defense acquisition system established pursuant to [section 3102 of this title](/usc/10/3102.md);
  - (2) subject to the authority, direction, and control of the [component](/usc/10/3011.md?p=13) acquisition executive or [service acquisition executive](/usc/10/101.md?p=a-10) of the [military](/usc/10/801.md?p=8) [department](/usc/10/101.md?p=a-6) concerned (as applicable)—
    - (A) carry out all powers, [functions](/usc/10/467.md?p=1), and duties of the [component](/usc/10/3011.md?p=13) acquisition executive or [service acquisition executive](/usc/10/101.md?p=a-10) concerned (as applicable) with respect to members of the [acquisition workforce](/usc/10/101.md?p=a-18) assigned to the [portfolio acquisition executive](/usc/10/1737.md?p=a-4); and
    - (B) ensure that the policies of the [Secretary](/usc/10/4951.md?p=3) of Defense established in accordance with this chapter are implemented in such portfolio;
  - (3) coordinate with the relevant [service chief](/usc/10/3101.md?p=5) (as defined in [section 3101 of this title](/usc/10/3101.md)) when evaluating, modifying, or implementing requirements determinations, performance objectives, [procurement](/usc/10/3011.md?p=1) quantity objectives, and materiel readiness objectives established under [section 118(c) of this title](/usc/10/118.md?p=c);
  - (4) liaise and collaborate directly with operational users of such defense acquisition [programs](/usc/10/2101.md?p=1) to receive [regular](/usc/10/101.md?p=b-12) feedback to ensure the effectiveness and suitability of capabilities;
  - (5) provide timely information to the relevant [service chief](/usc/10/3101.md?p=5), the Joint Staff, the Director of Cost Assessment and [Program](/usc/10/2101.md?p=1) Evaluation, and other officials identified by the [Secretary](/usc/10/4951.md?p=3) of Defense on cost, schedule, and performance trade-offs of defense acquisition [programs](/usc/10/2101.md?p=1) assigned to the [portfolio acquisition executive](/usc/10/1737.md?p=a-4);
  - (6) employ iterative development cycles with the authority to modify, discontinue, or terminate the development of capabilities—
    - (A) that no longer align with a joint [capability requirement](/usc/10/3101.md?p=2) (as defined in [section 181 of this title](/usc/10/181.md)) or other [capability requirement](/usc/10/3101.md?p=2) established by the [Secretary](/usc/10/4951.md?p=3) or relevant [service chief](/usc/10/3101.md?p=5); or
    - (B) that are experiencing significant cost growth, technical or performance deficiencies, or delays in schedule;
  - (7) collaborate with mission engineering [functions](/usc/10/467.md?p=1) of the [Department](/usc/10/101.md?p=a-6) of Defense to conduct cross-service technical and operational activities to coordinate integration of emerging technologies, prototypes, and operational concepts, as appropriate; and
  - (8) ensure effective market research and, to the maximum extent practical, prioritize—
    - (A) the use of transactions for prototype projects under [section 4022](/usc/10/4022.md); and
    - (B) the [procurement](/usc/10/3011.md?p=1) of [commercial products](/usc/10/3011.md?p=9) and [commercial services](/usc/10/3011.md?p=10) under [chapter 247](/usc/10/chstA/ptV/sptC/ch247.md) of this title.
- (d) **Personnel and Resources.—**
  - (1) The [Secretary concerned](/usc/10/2801.md?p=c-5) with respect to a [portfolio acquisition executive](/usc/10/1737.md?p=a-4) shall ensure that each such [portfolio acquisition executive](/usc/10/1737.md?p=a-4) is assigned dedicated personnel and other resources required to successfully perform the assigned duties and responsibilities of such [portfolio acquisition executive](/usc/10/1737.md?p=a-4).
  - (2) Personnel shall be under the authority and control of such [portfolio acquisition executive](/usc/10/1737.md?p=a-4) subject to the [component](/usc/10/3011.md?p=13) acquisition executive or [service acquisition executive](/usc/10/101.md?p=a-10) of the [department](/usc/10/101.md?p=a-6) concerned. Personnel and resources shall not be provided through matrixed, collateral duty, or dual-reporting arrangements, except as specifically authorized by the [Secretary concerned](/usc/10/2801.md?p=c-5) in writing.
  - (3) Personnel and resources required include—
    - (A) contracting and contract management;
    - (B) estimating costs;
    - (C) financial management and business;
    - (D) life-cycle management and product support;
    - (E) [program](/usc/10/2101.md?p=1) management;
    - (F) engineering and technical management;
    - (G) developmental testing and evaluation; and
    - (H) other personnel as determined by the [Secretary concerned](/usc/10/2801.md?p=c-5), as appropriate.

## Source credit

(Added Pub. L. 119–60, div. A, title XVIII, § 1802(a), Dec. 18, 2025, 139 Stat. 1225.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### Prior Provisions

A prior section 1732, added Pub. L. 101–510, div. A, title XII, § 1202(a), Nov. 5, 1990, 104 Stat. 1644; amended Pub. L. 102–484, div. A, title VIII, § 812(e)(1), Oct. 23, 1992, 106 Stat. 2451; Pub. L. 103–89, § 3(b)(3)(B), Sept. 30, 1993, 107 Stat. 982; Pub. L. 105–261, div. A, title VIII, § 811, Oct. 17, 1998, 112 Stat. 2086; Pub. L. 107–107, div. A, title VIII, § 824(b), title X, § 1048(e)(4), Dec. 28, 2001, 115 Stat. 1185, 1227; Pub. L. 108–136, div. A, title VIII, §§ 831(b)(2), (3), 832(b)(2), 833(2), Nov. 24, 2003, 117 Stat. 1549, 1550; Pub. L. 108–375, div. A, title VIII, § 812(a)(1), title X, § 1084(d)(14), (h)(2), Oct. 28, 2004, 118 Stat. 2013, 2062, 2064; Pub. L. 109–163, div. A, title X, § 1056(c)(3), Jan. 6, 2006, 119 Stat. 3439; Pub. L. 116–92, div. A, title VIII, § 861(b)(2), (j)(4), Dec. 20, 2019, 133 Stat. 1516, 1519, related to selection criteria and procedures for membership in the Acquisition Corps, prior to repeal by Pub. L. 116–92, div. A, title VIII, § 861(j)(5), Dec. 20, 2019, 133 Stat. 1519.