Job Listing
Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of War for Mission Capabilities
Office of the Secretary of Defense · Posted 9 days ago
Hybrid Pentagon $186K – $228K Apply by Jul 1, 2026 Miscellaneous Administration And Program ENTJESTJISFJISTJ Education
Apply for this job → About the Role
The Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of War for Mission Capabilities (PDASW(MC)) operates under the authority, direction, and control of the Assistant Secretary of War for Mission Capabilities (ASW(MC)) to identify and transition concepts that close high-priority time-critical gaps in multicomponent missions to warfighting capabilities. The ASW(MC) is a Presidential Appointee with Senate Confirmation.
What You'll Do
- →Major duties and responsibilities include, but are not limited to: The PDASW(MC) serves as the principal back-up to the ASW(MC) in providing policy guidance and technical direction to the Service, Agency and OSW component staffs engaged in mission integration and prototyping and experimentation.
- →The PDASW(MC) shares with the ASW(MC) and, when necessary, acts for the ASW(MC) on mission engineering, prototyping/experimentation.
- →PDASW(MC) takes executive action on internal management matters to include human capital and financial management.
- →Represents the ASW(MC) in the presentation and justification of programs to Congressional committees, to various departmental and inter-departmental committees and at conferences.
- →The PDASW(MC) assists with the conduct of Mission Engineering Analysis in collaboration with his/her counterpart and the Assistant Secretary of War for Acquisition (ASD (A)), to establish mission portfolios and inform the USW(R&E) and USW (A&S) of disruptive technologies that improve U.S.
- →Kill/Effects Chains or degrade an adversary's kill/effects chains.
- →The PDASW(MC) will review and develop policy and issue guidance at the direction of the ASW(MC) for DoW Mission and Enterprise Architectures, establishment of Open Architecture Standards, and pilots alternate rapid acquisition approaches.
- →The PDASW(MC) works with the Service/joint level (specifically BA4 prototyping), engages with the Services, Combatant Commands CCMDs, and the Joint Staff to prioritize/select prototype activities that introduce game-changing technology to the Services/requirements community.
- →PDASW(MC) works to leverage mission engineering analysis and prototyping/experimentation events to develop new capabilities based on emerging technologies.
- →The PDASW(MC) conducts red teaming in conjunction with prototyping/experimentation to improve operational use, sustainment, training, supportability, robustness to enemy threats focused on joint orphaned capabilities.
- →The PDASW(MC) serves as a member of the Personnel Policy Board, a director level forum focused on ensuring workforce development, training opportunities, and identification of candidate award recipients.
- →Serves as the ASW(MC) sub-pay pool manager.
- →The PDASW(MC) participates in boards, committees, and other groups pertaining to the ASW(MC) functional areas, and represents the Secretary of War, the Deputy Secretary of War, and the USW(R&E) on ASW(MC) matters outside the DoW.
- →Carries out such other functions and responsibilities as the ASW(MC) may direct.
Requirements
- ✓You must be a U.S. citizen to qualify for this position.
- ✓All newly appointed Career SES leaders must sign the Reassignment Rights Obligations Agreement as a condition of appointment into the SES.
- ✓You must submit to a drug test and receive a negative drug test before you can be appointed into this position.
- ✓Designated and/or Random Drug Testing required.
- ✓In order to qualify for this position, you must be able to obtain a Top Secret security clearance and access to Sensitive Compartmented Information (TS/SCI).
- ✓Submit resume and all other required documents online by 11:59 PM Eastern Standard Time on 07/01/2026 The individual selected will be required to file an 'Executive Branch Personnel Financial Disclosure Report (OGE-278) in accordance with the Ethics in Government Act of 1978.
- ✓You will serve a one-year probationary period unless you have previously completed the probationary period in the SES.
- ✓Males born after 12-31-59 must be registered or exempt from Selective Service (see https://www.sss.gov/Home/Registration).
Benefits
- ★"ADDITIONAL INFORMATION CONTINUED" Reasonable Accommodation (RA) Requests: If you believe you have a disability (i.e., physical or mental) covered by the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended that would interfere with completing the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, you will be granted the opportunity to request a RA in your online application.
- ★Requests for RA for the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments and appropriate supporting documentation for RA must be received prior to starting the USA Hire Competency-Based Assessments.
- ★Decisions on requests for RA are made on a case-by-case basis.
- ★If you meet the minimum qualifications of the position, after notification of the adjudication of your request, you will receive an email invitation to complete the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, based on your adjudication decision.
- ★You must complete all assessments within four (4) calendar days of receiving the URL to access the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments if you received the link after the close of the announcement.
- ★To determine if you need a RA, please review the Procedures for Requesting a Reasonable Accommodation for Online Assessments.
- ★(https://appsupport-usastaffing.opm.gov/hc/en-us/sections/45063131363475-Reasonable-Accommodation-Information)
Personality Fit
Job ID: 7d05e9b9-3eb6-4d61-9037-ae5ee2c6f877
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