Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition , Technology and Logistics The Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition , Technology and Logistics , or USD ( AT & L ) , is a senior civilian official in the Office of the Secretary of Defense within the Department of Defense . USD ( AT & L ) is the principal staff assistant and advisor to the Secretary of Defense and the Deputy Secretary of Defense for all matters concerning Departmental acquisitions and the general management of the Department as a whole . The Under Secretary is appointed from civilian life by the President with the consent of the Senate to serve at the pleasure of the President . The current Under Secretary is Frank Kendall III , who was appointed by President Barack Obama on October 6 , 2011 . Overview . The subdivision within the Office of the Secretary of Defense supervised by the Under Secretary is known as the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition , Technology and Logistics . The Office is the principal staff element for the Department of Defense for acquisitions , research and development , advanced technology , and logistics . As the Department ' s chief administrative officer , the Under Secretary oversees installation management , military construction , occupational health management , utilities and energy management ; business management modernization , document services , and nuclear , chemical , and biological defense programs . Despite holding the rank of " Under Secretary " , USD ( AT & L ) is a Level II position within the Executive Schedule . All other " Under Secretaries " within the Department are Level III positions . Since January 2010 , the annual rate of pay for Level II is $ 179 , 700 . History . This position was established by Act of Congress ( P . L . 99 - 348 ) in 1986 as the " Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition " , and implemented with the issuance of Department of Defense Directive 5134 . 1 in February 1987 . This position replaced the " Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering " , which had been established in 1977 . The Director , Defense Research and Engineering became a separate , less powerful position in the Pentagon , which reports up to the USD ( AT & L ) . The title changed to " Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Technology " in the National Defense Authorization Act for 1994 ( P . L . 103 - 160 , passed 30 November 1993 ) . The National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2000 ( P . L . 106 - 65 , passed 5 October 1999 ) , redesignated this post as the " Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition , Technology , and Logistics " , a name that the office still holds . The USD ( AT & L ) serves as the principal assistant to the Secretary of Defense for research and development , production , procurement , logistics , and military construction . Reporting Officials . Officials reporting to the USD ( AT & L ) include : Office of the Under Secretary . The Under Secretary leads the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisitions , Technology and Logistics ( OUSD - AT & L ) . A unit of the Office of the Secretary of Defense , OUSD - AT & L supervises all Department of Defense acquisitions , including procurement of goods and services , research and development , developmental testing , and contract administration , for all elements of the Department . OUSD - AT & L oversees logistics , maintenance , and sustainment support for all elements of the Department and establishes policies for the maintenance of the defense industrial base of the United States . The work of OUSD - AT & L is conducted through its several staff directorates , including :