William D. Bailey, performing the duties of the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Acquisition, Technology and Logistics, addressed attendees during the second day of Life Cycle Industry Days 2026 at the Dayton Convention Center. His keynote focused on the implementation of the Acquisition Transformation Strategy and the cultural shift required to deliver critical capabilities to warfighters faster.
Bailey stated that acquisition transformation involves more than just changing processes; it requires changing how acquisition professionals think about their roles. He advocated for adopting a warfighter mindset to ensure that aircraft, munitions, and complex digital systems are sustained and lethal at a moment's notice.
As the Department of the Air Force implements acquisition transformation, Bailey highlighted efforts to empower leaders at lower levels. This includes delegating greater decision-making authority and removing bureaucratic layers that can slow down delivery. He noted that the goal is to create an enterprise of integrated organizations and empowered personnel capable of operating at the necessary speed to win.
The Acquisition Transformation Strategy, which was unveiled in November 2025, aims to reshape how the department develops requirements, manages programs, and works with industry. The strategy places a greater emphasis on speed, flexibility, and delivering operational capability.
Bailey explained that increasing speed does not require sacrificing precision or accuracy. Instead, it involves bringing the right subject matter experts together, empowering them to make decisions, and synchronizing execution across the enterprise. He cited a successful effort involving coordination between the Air Force and the Army to rapidly install kits on HH-60 helicopters from both services as an example of working across organizational boundaries.
Bailey emphasized that transformation requires the entire enterprise, including requirements, sustainment, and testing, to align with this essential culture change. He highlighted the importance of giving individuals in the field the authority to address the challenges in front of them, such as the use of a SharePoint resource developed by B-52 test manager intern Sharlee Twarek to track certification statuses and improve visibility within the B-52 Radar Modernization and Commercial Engine Replacement Programs.
