The Assistant Secretary of the Air Force (Acquisition) (SAF/AQ) is a civilian office in the United States Department of the Air Force. The Assistant Secretary of the Air Force (Acquisition) is the United States Air Force service acquisition executive (SAE), responsible for all Air Force research, development and non-space acquisition activities.
He/she provides direction, guidance and supervision of all matters pertaining to the formulation, review, approval and execution of acquisition plans, policies and programs. The SAE directs $30 billion annual investments that include major programs like the KC-X, F-22A, F-35, C-17 and munitions, as well as capability areas such as information technology and command and control, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (C4ISR) systems. The SAE formulates and executes the $210 billion Air Force investment strategy to acquire systems and support services to provide combat capability to joint warfighting commanders.