Directory of DoD Program Executive Officers (PEOs) – Overview & Breakdown

Introduction

The Program Executive Officer (PEO) is the senior official responsible for all aspects of a specific program or portfolio of similar acquisition programs within the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD). PEOs and their contracting teams “buy things” on behalf of the services, while program managers (PMs) work under the PEO and manage subsets of the larger program. The DoD spends hundreds of billions of dollars annually on products and services, and nearly all of these purchases are managed through Program Executive Offices. This directory lists 75 PEOs along with key program and project managers. Each PEO is led by a senior military or civilian official responsible for the cost, schedule and performance of major systems or portfolios worth billions of dollars.

Note: Personnel assignments and program offices change frequently, so the directory is already dated as soon as it’s written. Users should verify current assignments.

Using the Directory

While it is helpful to know which PEOs exist and who staffs them, the directory is most useful when combined with budget documents. By reviewing the DoD budget (P‑1 procurement and R‑1 R&D documents) and comparing those programs to the directory, users can see where money is being spent and whether a program’s budget is increasing or decreasing. This context helps prioritize which PEOs and program offices to engage for business development or partnership opportunities.

Portfolio Management under OUSD(A&S)

Within the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition & Sustainment (OUSD(A&S)), portfolio management is divided into several directorates:

• Strategic, Space & Intelligence Portfolio Management – oversees programs related to national security space, strategic systems and intelligence.
• Platform & Weapons Portfolio Management – responsible for major platforms (aircraft, ships, vehicles) and weapons development.
• Air Platforms & Weapons (APW) – a directorate focusing specifically on air platforms and munitions.
• Electronic Warfare (EW), Surface Warfare (SW) & Cyber Warfare (CW) directorates – manage electronic warfare systems, naval surface warfare systems and cyber‑warfare capabilities respectively.
• Defense Pricing, Contracting & Acquisition Policy and Acquisition Policy & Innovation – oversee contracting rules and acquisition policy.

These OUSD(A&S) divisions set policy and provide oversight for the PEOs across the services.

Army Program Executive Offices

The Army operates numerous PEOs, each responsible for a portfolio of systems. Major Army PEOs include:

• Joint Program Office Armaments & Ammunition – oversees close combat systems, combat ammunition systems and maneuver ammunition systems, plus project leads for artillery and joint ammunition.
• PEO Aviation – manages rotary and fixed‑wing aircraft (Apache, cargo helicopters, utility helicopters), aviation mission systems and architectures, turbine engines and the development of future attack, reconnaissance and assault aircraft.
• PEO Command, Control & Communications‑Tactical (C3T) – includes the Integrated Enterprise Network, mission command, tactical networks and radios, and the Joint Tactical Networking Center.
• PEO Combat Support & Combat Service Support (CS&CSS) – responsible for expeditionary energy & sustainment systems, force projection, transportation systems and the Joint Light Tactical Vehicle program.
• PEO Enterprise Information Systems (EIS) – manages enterprise IT and data platforms, human‑resource systems, training information systems and logistics information systems.
• PEO Ground Combat Systems – oversees programs such as self‑propelled howitzers, mounted armoured vehicles, Abrams tanks, the Stryker Brigade Combat Team and future battle platforms.
• PEO Intelligence, Electronic Warfare & Sensors (IEW&S) – covers aircraft survivability equipment, cyber and space projects, defensive cyber operations, electronic warfare & cyber, intelligence systems and analytics, positioning/navigation/timing, sensors and aerial intelligence, terrestrial sensors and tactical exploitation of national capabilities.
• PEO Missiles & Space – includes integrated fires mission command, layered defense project offices (SHIELD), search/track/acquire/radiate/eliminate (STARE) projects, tactical aviation and ground munitions, rapid capabilities offices and other missile programs.
• PEO Soldier – responsible for soldier equipment and survivability programs, including protective systems and equipment.
• PEO Simulation, Training & Instrumentation (STRI) – develops training and simulation systems.
• Other specialized PEOs such as JPEO‑CBRND (Joint Chemical/Biological/Radiological/Nuclear Defense), PEO Rapid Capabilities & Critical Technologies, and PEO Assembled Chemical Weapons Alternatives.

Navy & Marine Corps Program Executive Offices

The Department of the Navy organizes its acquisition programs under several PEOs. Major Navy and Marine Corps PEOs include:

• PEO Aircraft Carriers – designs, builds and sustains aircraft carriers. It integrates systems into carriers and manages programs like the Ford‑class (CVN‑78) and in‑service carrier modernization.
• PEO Integrated Warfare Systems (IWS) – develops and delivers combat systems for surface ships; the largest PEO in the Navy. Sub‑divisions include IWS 1.0 (AEGIS combat systems), IWS 2.0 (sensors & lasers), IWS 3.0 (surface ship weapons) and associated radar and electronic warfare programs.
• PEO Ships – manages acquisition and lifecycle support for all non‑nuclear surface ships, from frontline combatants to amphibious and support vessels.
• Team Submarine – encompasses PEO Attack Submarines, PEO Strategic Submarines (Columbia class), PEO Undersea Warfare Systems and the AUKUS Integration & Acquisition Office.
• PEO Unmanned & Small Combatants – focuses on unmanned maritime systems, mine warfare systems and small surface combatants.
• Additional PEOs include PEO Land Systems for Marine Corps ground systems, PEO Digital & Enterprise Services (information‑technology modernization) and PEO Space Systems.

Air Force Program Executive Offices

The Department of the Air Force organizes its acquisition through the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Acquisition, Technology & Logistics (SAF/AQ). SAF/AQ oversees research, development and acquisition activities worth over $60 billion across more than 550 programs. Key points about Air Force PEOs include:

• An Air Force PEO may manage a single program (e.g., the Joint Strike Fighter) or an entire portfolio (e.g., PEO Space responsible for all Space & Missile Systems Command acquisitions).
• PEO Rapid Capabilities Office – led by Randall Walden; provides critical capabilities using unique acquisition approaches.
• PEO Combat & Mission Support – acquires services for the Air Force.
• Air Force Life Cycle Management Center (AFLCMC) – central organization for life‑cycle management; includes numerous PEOs and program offices.
• PEO Command, Control, Communications & Battle Management (C3BM) – headed by Maj. Gen. Luke Cropsey; oversees architecture & systems engineering, mission integration teams (air, maritime, space, land, homeland defense) and the Advanced Battle Management System (ABMS).
• PEO Armament Directorate – manages armament development, including air dominance, munitions sustainment and rapid enterprise solutions.
• PEO Digital Directorate – responsible for digital programs such as aerospace management systems, theater battle control, E‑3 AWACS modernization and Force Protection.
• PEO Business & Enterprise Systems (BES) – delivers IT solutions for mission support and enterprise logistics readiness.
• Additional PEOs cover fighter & advanced aircraft, bombers, intelligence/surveillance/reconnaissance, mobility & training aircraft, nuclear systems, propulsion, rapid sustainment and other specialized portfolios.

Other Department‑wide PEOs

Beyond the Army, Navy and Air Force, other DoD organizations maintain PEOs, including:

• Missile Defense Agency (MDA) – oversees acquisition of missile defense systems.
• Defense Health Agency (DHA) – manages medical IT and health‑system acquisitions.
• Special Operations Command (SOCOM) – has a PEO for special operations forces equipment.
• Space Force PEOs – handle space domain awareness and satellite acquisition (e.g., PEO Space Domain Awareness & Combat Power).

Conclusion

PEOs are the focal point for acquiring complex military systems and services across the Department of Defense. This directory provides a high‑level breakdown of PEO responsibilities by service branch. To effectively engage with DoD acquisition programs, combine the personnel information in this directory with up‑to‑date budget data and program overviews. Understanding which PEO oversees your area of interest will guide business development efforts and partnership strategies within the defense ecosystem.