Luncheon with Mr. David M. Van Buren, Air Force Service Acquisition Executive

Program Agenda:

11:30am: Check-In and Reception
12:00pm - 1:30pm: Luncheon and Program

Mr. David M. Van Buren is the Air Force Service Acquisition Executive, Washington, D.C. He is responsible for all Air Force research, development and acquisition activities. He provides direction, guidance and supervision of all matters pertaining to the formulation, review, approval and execution of acquisition plans, policies and programs. Mr. Van Buren directs the approximately $70 billion of annual investments that include major programs like the KC-46A, F-35, Advanced Extremely High Frequency Satellite, Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle, Global Positioning System Satellite and weapons, as well as capability areas such as information technology, cyber, command and control and intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance systems. He formulates and executes the roughly $300 billion five-year Air Force investment strategy to acquire systems and support services to provide combat capability to joint warfighting commanders. Since April 2009, he has been performing the duties of the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force, while serving as the Principal Deputy for Acquisition, Washington, D.C.

Mr. Van Buren has more than 30 years of acquisition experience in the Air Force, large defense corporations, and private equity owned small and medium aerospace and commercial high-technology firms. These technology areas include hyperspectral imaging; laser communications; alternative power sources; avionics; high-speed processing; compound semi-conductors; and satellite power systems. In 2005, he was also a member of the Defense Acquisition Performance Assessment Study Senior Review Team as its only small business representative.

Prior to entering public service, and for the past 15 years, Mr. Van Buren primarily worked as an executive for numerous private equity-owned high technology firms. He directed Raytheon's compound semi-conductor activity, and successfully transitioned TECSTAR, a small business, to being named one of the top 50 space manufacturers in the world by Space News. Mr. Van Buren was Vice President and Deputy Program Manager for the B-2 bomber at Northrop Corporation. He was involved in the transition to production, flight test, first flight and day-to-day program management activities. At Lockheed, he was a project manager on several classified airborne platforms, including the F-117A, and satellite platforms. Prior to his tenure at Lockheed, he served on active duty in the Air Force for nine years, including two tours in Southeast Asia, ending his career as a captain. His last Air Force assignment was as Program Manager in the AIM-9 Sidewinder Program Office.