Ben FitzGerald, a professional staff member on the Senate Armed Services Committee, has been appointed director of the Defense Department‘s strategy and design office in a move slated to take effect Jan. 2.
DoD said Thursday FitzGerald will lead the reorganization of the Pentagon’s office of the undersecretary of defense for acquisition, technology and logistics.
The National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2017 mandates DoD to split up the responsibilities of the AT&L office into between an undersecretary for acquisition and sustainment; an undersecretary for research and engineering; and a chief management officer.
FitzGerald will serve for five years as a highly qualified expert, which refers to “individuals who possess uncommon, special knowledge, skills and experience in an occupational field, and judgment that is accorded authority and status by peers or the public,” DoD noted.
In his new role, FitzGerald will aim to identify if current AT&L functions should transition to R&E, A&S, another post within the office of the defense secretary, the military services or be eliminated altogether.
He previously served as senior fellow and director of the technology and national security program at the Center for a New American Security.
FitzGerald also worked as a managing director at consulting firm Noetic Group; a solutions specialist at IBM; and an account manager at Unisys.
