PHOENIX — President Barack Obama is expected to sign the fiscal 2010 defense authorization bill into law Oct. 28, including a section about changing the way industry and government manage major weapon system support, according to Lynn Williams, a staff member of the House Armed Services Committee.

Section 805 of the bill fundamentally shifts high-level aftermarket responsibility to the government and takes over some resource allocation from private industry. It requires the Pentagon to issue “comprehensive guidance on life-cycle management and the development and implementation of product support strategies for major weapon systems,” Williams said.

It also requires “that each major weapon system be supported by a product support manager,” and requires that the product support manager be a member of the armed services or a full-time employee of the Defense Department, said Williams, who spoke at a maintenance symposium here Oct. 27.

Randy Fowler, assistant deputy undersecretary of defense for materiel readiness, said “the Section 805 legislation has been a peacemaker” for industry and government entities that provide aftermarket support, and it fills in life-cycle management and product support functions not addressed by the Weapons Systems Acquisition Reform Act signed on May 22.

John Johns, assistant deputy undersecretary of Defense for maintenance, said Section 805 moves aftermarket support in the right direction, but he said there are still some ambiguities, such as delineating the difference between program support integrators and program support managers. He said the Office of the Secretary of Defense can clarify this in policy guidance that could be issued within a few months.

Johns said this shift in program management will require the Defense Department to examine skill sets within its organization and ensure managers are properly trained to assume new program management responsibilities.

Williams said Section 805 is driven by increased sustainment costs and a growing reliance on industry for product support responsibilities that should be with a government agent.

By considering sustainment requirements, such as engineering and technical support, in early acquisition discussions, she thinks product support costs should drop. For instance, weapon system developers are often driven by schedule and cost.

Even though an anti-corrosion coating could be a smart option, manufacturers will not apply it because it drives up initial costs. If sustainment and acquisition programs are married at early stages, long-term support can be better maximized, she said.

Photo: Boeing