Michael Duffey, under secretary of defense for acquisition and sustainment, has received the 2026 Wash100 Award for his leadership in accelerating defense acquisition reform and strengthening the resilience of the U.S. defense industrial base.
Jim Garrettson, Executive Mosaic CEO and founder of the Wash100 Award, presented Duffey with the honor on stage at the Potomac Officers Club’s Defense R&D Summit on Jan. 29.
Executive Mosaic recognized Duffey for his impact on acquisition modernization efforts across the Department of War, particularly his focus on speeding up capability delivery, improving accountability and building a defense industrial base prepared to meet evolving global threats.
Why Did Michael Duffey Win the 2026 Wash100 Award?
Duffey earned his place in the 2026 Wash100 class for his work to reshape how the Department of War acquires and sustains the systems needed for national defense.
Garrettson said Duffey’s selection reflects the “energy and determination” he has brought to transforming defense acquisition since taking office. The Wash 100 Award founder also pointed to Duffey’s commitment to building a more resilient industrial base and adopting contracting strategies that better align with modern mission requirements.
One of the most significant shifts under Duffey’s leadership has been the move away from traditional program executive offices toward portfolio acquisition executives, an approach designed to provide senior leaders with broader insight across mission areas. The model allows leadership to manage funding and scheduling decisions across multiple programs instead of treating each effort as an isolated initiative.
Duffey has also supported reducing time-consuming processes such as the analysis of alternatives, advocating for faster evaluations of commercial technology and competing prototypes to keep pace with adversaries fielding capabilities at an increasingly rapid rate.
Industrial base security has been another central theme of Duffey’s tenure. Under his leadership, the Department of War expanded its use of Defense Production Act Title III authorities to strengthen domestic manufacturing and address supply chain bottlenecks. During fiscal year 2025, the department awarded hundreds of millions of dollars in DPA Title III investments to boost production of solid rocket motors, energetics, microelectronics and other critical defense components.
“With the supply chain and workforce required to develop and design these weapon systems, we know there’s a certain need for these systems over time. And enabling our industry partners to make investments and optimize how they’re doing business, I think, is a benefit to everybody,” Duffey said at the GovCon conference.
Who Is Michael Duffey?
Michael Duffey was confirmed by the Senate as USD(A&S) on June 3, 2025, and sworn in two days later. He assumed responsibility for acquisition policy, logistics and sustainment, contract administration, materiel readiness, installations and environment, operational energy, nuclear deterrence and industrial base security.
His role includes oversight of approximately $300 billion in annual contracts and a workforce of roughly 190,000 civilian and military personnel, positioning him at the center of the Pentagon’s acquisition and sustainment strategy amid heightened global competition.
Duffey has consistently stressed that acquisition reform should empower leaders to make informed tradeoffs rather than replacing one rigid process with another. He has highlighted the importance of balancing the urgency of speed with cost and performance risk.
During remarks at the Defense R&D Summit, Duffey challenged government and industry leaders to rethink legacy acquisition approaches, encouraging them to “imagine a different future…an arsenal of freedom built by acquisition agility.”
Duffey brings more than two decades of experience spanning the Pentagon, the White House and the private sector. Prior to becoming USD(A&S), he served as a partner at Equinox Global Solutions. He also joined the Office of Management and Budget as program associate director for national security, helping oversee a budget exceeding $1 trillion and shaping investment priorities, including shipbuilding and nuclear modernization. His Pentagon service includes roles as deputy chief of staff to the secretary of defense and chief of staff to the under secretary of defense for research and engineering.
What Is the Wash100 Award?
The Wash100 Award is Executive Mosaic’s annual recognition of the 100 most influential leaders in government contracting and the federal sector.
Each year, Executive Mosaic selects honorees based on leadership impact, strategic vision and their role in shaping federal missions and national priorities. Wash100 winners include senior government officials, military leaders and top GovCon executives who have demonstrated notable achievements over the past year and are expected to continue influencing the industry in the year ahead.
The Wash100 Award has become one of the most respected honors in the GovCon community, spotlighting individuals who are driving innovation, modernization and mission success across the federal landscape.
Duffey’s selection as a 2026 Wash100 Award winner underscores Executive Mosaic’s recognition of his growing influence over the Pentagon’s acquisition and industrial strategy. As the Department of War faces increasing pressure to deliver capability at speed and scale, Duffey’s leadership is helping shape how the defense enterprise modernizes procurement, strengthens supply chains and ensures long-term readiness.
Executive Mosaic congratulates Michael Duffey on his 2026 Wash100 Award. Vote for Duffey as one of your favorites in the 2026 Wash100 Popular Vote Contest.
