[Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 113 (Monday, July 13, 2026)]
[Senate]
[Pages S3784-S3785]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

  SA 6589. Mr. KIM submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by 
him to the bill S. 4784, to authorize appropriations for fiscal year 
2027 for military activities of the Department of Defense, for military 
construction, and for defense activities of the Department of Energy, 
to prescribe military personnel strengths for such fiscal year, and for 
other purposes; which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows:

       At the appropriate place in title II, insert the following:

     SEC. ___. ASSESSMENT OF FEASIBILITY AND ADVISABILITY OF A 
                   DEFENSE DIGITAL ENGINEERING CENTER OF 
                   EXCELLENCE FOR MODEL-BASED ACQUISITION, SECURE 
                   DATA TRANSFER, AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT.

       (a) Assessment.--Not later than 180 days after the date of 
     the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall, 
     acting through the Under Secretary of Defense for Research 
     and Engineering, assess the feasibility and advisability of 
     establishing a center of excellence (in this section referred 
     to as the ``Center'') at an accredited institution of higher 
     education located within an established defense innovation 
     corridor that maintains--
       (1) active defense research programs across not fewer than 
     two military departments;
       (2) an operational digital engineering hub or equivalent 
     facility;
       (3) a planned or existing facility with the capability to 
     achieve sensitive compartmented information facility (SCIF) 
     accreditation; and
       (4) demonstrated capability in model-based systems 
     engineering, additive manufacturing for defense applications, 
     and cybersecurity.
       (b) Mission.--The Center shall serve as a nationally 
     designated hub for the following three interconnected defense 
     digital engineering pillars:
       (1) Secure data transfer and digital engineering.--(A) The 
     Center shall assess the feasibility and advisability of 
     establishing an accredited secure data transfer capability to 
     serve as a trusted intermediary for the exchange of model-
     based digital engineering artifacts between military 
     laboratories, shipyards, operational platforms, government 
     agencies, and industry partners.
       (B) Such capability would support both large-scale digital 
     engineering programs, including programs of record, and 
     smaller-scale initiatives such as additive manufacturing 
     digital thread applications for equipment obsolescence 
     management.
       (C) The Center shall develop and maintain interoperability 
     standards for digital artifact exchange that are compatible 
     with existing and emerging Department of Defense data 
     architectures.
       (2) Model-based acquisition pilot program.--(A) The 
     Secretary, in coordination with the Center, shall establish a 
     pilot program to develop and test model-based technical data 
     packages for not fewer than one naval acquisition program of 
     record.
       (B) The pilot program shall demonstrate a continuous 
     digital thread from requirements development through design, 
     construction, and sustainment, with the objective of 
     eliminating duplicative data recreation by government and 
     industry stakeholders.
       (C) The Center shall develop reference architectures, data 
     exchange standards, and interoperability protocols for model-
     based Technical Data Packages in coordination with the Naval 
     Sea Systems Command, relevant Program Executive Offices, and 
     industry partners.
       (D) Not later than two years after the establishment of the 
     pilot program, the Secretary shall submit to the 
     congressional defense committees a report evaluating the cost 
     savings, schedule improvements, and technical quality 
     improvements achieved relative to static, document-centric 
     acquisition processes.
       (3) Workforce development program.--(A) The Center shall 
     develop and deliver role-specific digital engineering 
     training programs for Department of Defense leadership and 
     management personnel.
       (B) Such programs shall be designed at not fewer than three 
     proficiency levels--
       (i) executive level, for flag and general officers, Senior 
     Executive Service personnel, and program executive officers;
       (ii) program management level, for program managers, ship 
     design managers, and design integration managers; and
       (iii) working level, for systems engineers, requirements 
     management personnel, and technical warrant holders.
       (C) The Center may award certificates of completion and 
     shall coordinate with the Defense Acquisition University to 
     ensure such programs satisfy continuing education and 
     certification requirements under chapter 87 of title 10, 
     United States Code.

[[Page S3785]]

       (c) Coordination.--The Center shall coordinate with--
       (1) the Office of the Chief Information Officer of the 
     Department of Defense;
       (2) the Defense Acquisition University;
       (3) the Defense Innovation Unit;
       (4) relevant Federally funded research and development 
     centers; and
       (5) private sector industry partners, including 
     shipbuilders, defense contractors, and technology firms.
       (d) Report.--Not later than 1 year after the date of the 
     enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall submit 
     to the congressional defense committees a report on the 
     findings of the Secretary under this section.
                                 ______