Welcome to the 38th Annual GOMACTech Conference
MARCH 31-APRIL 3, 2014 - Las Vegas, NV

http://www.sheridanprinting.com/pcm/gomactech/gomactech.cfm

Mr. Alan Shaffer serves as the Acting - Assistant Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering. In this position, Mr. Shaffer is responsible for formulating, planning, and reviewing the DoD Research, Development, Test, and Evaluation (RDT&E) programs, plans, strategy, priorities, and execution of the DoD RDT&E budget. Specifically, this position reviews the maturity of technology as part of the acquisition cycle, as well as develops options to reduce the overall technology development risk to DoD programs.

Prior to entering the federal government, Mr. Shaffer served a 24-year United States Air Force career with assignments in weather, intelligence, science and technology management, acquisition oversight, and programming. His career included deployment to Honduras in support of Joint Task Force Bravo in the mid-1980s and direct support of the United States Army 3rd Armored Division at Hanau, Germany. During Operation DESERT STORM, he was responsible for deployment of the 500-person theater weather force. Other assignments included Wing Weather Officer supporting the 320th Bombardment Wing (Heavy) at Mather AFB, California; Intelligence Officer at Foreign Technology Division, Wright Patterson AFB, OH; Deputy Director of Weather for Air Combat Command, Langley AFB, VA, numerous staff assignments in the Air Staff and Office of the Secretary of Defense, in the Pentagon; and finally, the Air Force Weather Agency, Offutt AFB, Nebraska.

Upon retirement from the United States Air Force in 2000, Mr. Shaffer was appointed to the Senior Executive Service as the Director, Multi-disciplinary Systems, Office of the Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for Science and Technology. In 2001, he assumed the position as Director, Plans and Programs, Defense Research and Engineering. Mr. Shaffer continues to serve as the Director while serving as the Principal Deputy. As the Director for Plans and Programs, Mr. Shaffer is responsible for the oversight of the Department of Defense science and technology portfolio totaling over $10.5 billion. Mr. Shaffer has served as the Executive Director for several senior Task Forces. These included the Technical Joint Cross Service Group during the Base Realignment and Closure activity; DoD Energy Security Task Force in 2007and most recently the Executive Director of the Mine Resistant Ambush Protection Task Force. In addition he serves as the tri-chair to the Department of Defense Modeling and Simulation Steering Committee.

Mr. Shaffer earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Mathematics from the University of Vermont in 1976. He earned a second Bachelor of Science in Meteorology from the University of Utah, a Master of Science in Meteorology from the Naval Postgraduate School, and a Master of Science in National Resource Strategy from the Industrial College of the Armed Forces. He has been awarded the Distinguished Executive Presidential Rank Award in 2007 and the Meritorious Executive Presidential Rank Award in 2004.