USAF consolidates some acquisition program offices into mission-focused groups
But many of the new “portfolio acquisition executives” were already leading multi-mission efforts.
Thomas Novelly | January 8, 2026
Air Force Acquisition
The Air Force is sweeping some of the offices that oversee its acquisition programs into groups with similar missions, part of an effort that aligns with—but also predates—recent acquisition-reform guidance issued by the defense secretary.
On Thursday, service officials revealed the first five of the new groups and the "portfolio acquisition executives" who will run them:
Command, control, communications, and battle management: Maj. Gen. Luke Cropsey
Fighters and advanced aircraft: Col. Timothy Helfrich
Nuclear command, control and communications: Scott Hardiman
Propulsion: John Sneden
Weapons: Brig. Gen. Robert Lyons III
Ostensibly, these new PAEs replace and supersede program executive officers who were focused on narrower efforts. But most of the uniformed and civilian PAEs were already running acquisition efforts focused on sets of related missions rather than individual programs.
https://www.defenseone.com/business/2026/01/usaf-consolidates-some-acquisition-program-offices-mission-focused-groups/410569/?oref=d1-featured-river-secondary
