[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 41 (Thursday, March 7, 2019)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E264-E265]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      TRIBUTE TO MR. SHAY D. ASSAD

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. STEPHEN F. LYNCH

                            of massachusetts

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, March 7, 2019

  Mr. LYNCH. Madam Speaker, I wish to honor a Massachusetts 
constituent, Mr. Shay Assad, who will be retiring this year after 
nearly 25 years of combined military and federal service to our 
country.
  He graduated with distinction from the U.S. Naval Academy; 
thereafter, he served two tours of duty aboard U.S. Navy destroyers and 
won recognition as the Outstanding Junior Officer, Fifth Naval 
District. He is an Aegis Weapons system and Arleigh Burke class plank 
owner having served as the Naval Procurement Officer who procured the 
Navy's first Aegis system for DDG-47 at the Naval Sea Systems Command. 
He commenced federal government civil service as the assistant Deputy 
Commandant, Installations and Logistics for Contracts at headquarters, 
the Marine Corps, Washington, D.C., serving as the senior civilian 
contracting official for the U.S. Marine Corps. Mr. Assad joined the 
Office of the Secretary of Defense (OSD) in April 2006. During his 
tenure in OSD, Mr. Assad first served as the Director, Defense Pricing 
and Acquisition Policy (DPAP). As such he was the recognized functional 
leader of a workforce of 27,000 contracting and pricing professionals 
responsible for the procurement of approximately $300B in goods and 
services annually.
  In addition, from January 2009 through June 5, 2011 he concurrently 
served in other Acquisition, Technology & Logistics (AT&L) leadership 
positions. For a period of time he served as the Acting Deputy Under 
Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Technology. He also performed 
the duties of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Acquisition. In 
June 2011, he left his role as Director, DPAP to serve in the newly 
established position of Director, Defense Pricing. In August 2017 
through December 2018, he served as Acting Director, DPAP, concurrent 
with his duties as Director, Defense Pricing. His combined senior 
executive experience in the Defense industry (where Mr. Assad served 
for 25 years prior to joining OSD) and in Government was without peer 
among members of the Senior Executive Service.
  Among his most significant accomplishments for the Department of 
Defense, Mr. Assad led the development and implementation of the 
largest and most expansive plan in the Department's history that 
focused on improving both the size and quality of the acquisition 
workforce. This plan, known as the Defense Acquisition Workforce 
Development Force (DAWDF) initiative, still serves today as the 
cornerstone for improving the quality of the acquisition workforce. In 
addition, Mr. Assad developed and implemented the Department of Defense 
Contract Peer Review process which oversaw every sole source 
procurement in excess of $500 million dollars, as well as every 
significant competitive source selection within the Department of 
Defense over the past twelve years. The peer review process has been 
recognized to have enabled the savings of billions for the taxpayers 
through improving the quality of the Department's contract business 
dealings.
  Mr. Assad also led the OSD peer review team that oversaw the 
successful conduct of the largest single source selection in the 
Department's history--the KC-X tanker program resulting in saving 
billions for the taxpayers. He led the Department of Defense mediation 
and developed the successful strategy to resolve litigation associated 
with the Department's Space Launch Program, enabling an increase in the 
security posture of the United States, while saving hundreds of 
millions for the taxpayers.
  Over his tenure of federal service, Mr. Assad was the most decorated 
contracting and pricing professional in the career civil service having 
received numerous federal service awards. Principal among those awards 
were: 1) the Distinguished Service Medal with Bronze Palms; 2) the 
Distinguished Service Medal; 3) the Secretary of Defense Meritorious 
Service Medal; 4) the Secretary of Defense Exceptional Service Medal; 
5) a Distinguished Presidential Rank Award; 6) a Meritorious 
Presidential Rank Award; 7) the Department of Defense Inspector General 
Joseph H. Sherick Award (the highest honor bestowed on non-OIG 
employees); and 8) the David Acker Award for Acquisition Excellence. He 
was inducted into the Defense Acquisition University (DAU) Hall of Fame 
in recognition of his leadership in the acquisition profession and for 
the establishment of the DAWDF initiative. He has been the Department's 
leading advocate for increasing employment opportunities for the blind 
and severely disabled; and has received numerous awards to include the 
E. Richard ``Dick'' Alley Career Achievement Award (Ability One 
Program's highest recognition) and the Osbourne ``Oz'' Day Award for 
those efforts.

[[Page E265]]

  I ask my colleagues to join me in thanking Mr. Assad for his 
distinguished service to our country and in wishing him a fulfilling 
and enjoyable retirement.

                          ____________________