DAWIA Workforce
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DAWIA Workforce

What is DAWIA?
"DAWIA" is an acronym for the 1990 Defense Acquisition Workforce Improvement Act (Title 10 U.S.C. 1701-1764). DAWIA's purpose is to improve the effectiveness of the military and civilian acquisition workforce through enhanced education, training and career development and thereby improve the acquisition process. DAWIA requires the DOD to establish formal career paths for those people who want to pursue careers in acquisition. DOD has accomplished this by dividing acquisition positions into position categories and establishing a formal certification process. If you hold a designated acquisition position, DOD's certification standards apply to you. There may also be DAWIA legal qualification requirements that apply to you.

What are the Position Categories in the DAWIA Workforce?
The acquisition position categories are Program Management; Communications-Computer Systems; Contracting (including Construction); Purchasing; Industrial Property Management; Systems Planning, Research, Development and Engineering; Test and Evaluation; Manufacturing and Production; Quality Assurance; Acquisition Logistics; Business, Cost Estimating, and Financial Management; Program Management Oversight; and Education, Training and Career Development. Each acquisition position falls into one of three levels for purposes of establishing certification standards. The level is determined by the grade of the position. Except for the Purchasing career field, these three levels are: Level I (GS- 5/8) and military 0-1/3); Level II (GS-9/12) and military 0-4); end Level III (GS-13 and above and military 0-5 and senior). The certification levels for the Purchasing career field are: Level I (GS-5 and E-4/5); Level II (GS-6/8 and E- 6/8); and Level III (OS-9 and E-9).

Who is the "DACM"?
The Director of Acquisition Career Management (DACM) is responsible to the Assistant Secretary of the Navy (Research, Development and Acquisition) for the development, implementation and oversight of the DoN Acquisition Workforce Program (AWP). The (DACM) is also responsible for administering centralized funding for training and education required by acquisition workforce members.

What are Functional Boards?
Functional Boards, composed of experts in the acquisition functional areas, assist in the identification and resolution of common community issues and recommend education, training and experience requirements, i.e., certification standards, for each acquisition career field.

Who actually manages the DAWIA Workforce?
The (AWP) is a responsibility of the line management chain of command. The DoN has delegated the maximum authority allowed by law and DOD regulation to heads of major commands, e.g., Naval Air Systems Command, Naval Sea Systems Command, etc., employing acquisition workforce members. Most of these responsibilities can be redelegated. You will have to check your local instructions to find out what acquisition workforce authorities have been delegated to officials in your organization.