Foreign Military Sales Program Office (Weapon System Program Manager)

An acquisition program manager (PM) is responsible for leading a multidisciplinary team to manage all aspects of an individual acquisition program and for guiding the program toward meeting all cost, schedule, and system performance goals. An acquisition program management team typically includes functional experts from program management, systems engineering, testing, finance, contracting, logistics, information technology, and manufacturing.

The program manager is responsible for formulating the acquisition strategy and executing approved acquisition plans. The program manager typically performs these functions with the assistance of a multidisciplinary support team. Collectively, the program manager, with the respective support team, constitute the program office.

With the support of the system program management office team, the program manager is responsible for leading the program through the remaining phases, decision reviews, and acquisition milestones of the defense acquisition system process. In addition, the program management office remains in place to manage all the technical and life-cycle sustainment aspects of the system after the system is delivered to U.S. forces. The program management office will also be responsible for acquiring any additional quantities for the DOD as well as potentially developing improved or modified configurations.

If the U.S. agrees to sell the system through FMS, the FMS acquisition will be accomplished with support by the same program management office that is managing the system for the DOD. The system program management office may acquire the FMS requirements either as separate individual procurements or by consolidating the FMS requirements with DOD requirements on the same U.S. contract.

For major weapon systems, the Military Departments (MILDEPs) establish Program Management (PM) offices responsible for the following:

• Developing and acquiring the initial system
• Managing all technical aspects of the systems delivered to U.S. forces
• Procuring any additional quantities for the DOD
• Engineering improved or modified configurations

An Integrated Product Team (IPT) will typically consist of a weapon system program manager, supported by personnel from several functional disciplines (program management, engineering, testing, contracting, logistics, and financial management).

When an international partner decides to acquire a sophisticated weapon system through the FMS program, formal logistics support planning begins when the international partner submits a comprehensive letter of request (LOR), which, in addition to identifying the desired weapon system configuration, identifies the country’s operational requirements, and existing logistics support capabilities. However, before the LOR is submitted, there should be informal meetings and discussions between the International partner, the weapon system program office, the implementing agency, the security cooperation office, and, potentially, the contractor or manufacturer. These discussions should address the configuration of the product, delivery methods, and how the item is to be sustained.

For major system sales, the case manager must coordinate with weapon system program managers and item managers to determine the LOA line items to be included on the case to meet requirements identified in the international partner’s LOR. Cost and availability estimates are developed for all articles and services included in each LOA line. These estimates may be based on current DOD inventories or on information from U.S. defense contractors.

Effective case management requires frequent communication with the weapon system program manager, the contracting officer, and numerous other key personnel in other organizations. When potential cost overruns or delays are identified, the case manager is expected to consult with the program manager, the contractor, and the international partner to ensure all potential options are explored and informed decisions can be made.

Air Force directs the management of its FMS business on a line-by-line basis. SAF/IA or AFSAC, as applicable, assigns line management responsibility to the major command having cognizance over the article or service being provided and a Security Assistance Program Manager (SAPM) to oversee the development and execution of major FMS system acquisition LOAs.