Mr. Shay D. Assad is a career acquisition professional with more than 45 years’ experience in federal government and commercial business in the fields of contracting, pricing, acquisition management, logistics, and financial management. Prior to embarking on his current tenure as a member of the Senior Executive Service in the Office of the Secretary of Defense, he served for over 20 years in the private sector, after starting his career in the U.S. military. Throughout his career, Mr. Assad has led large organizations with complex budget and fiscal challenges during periods of substantial change.

Mr. Assad is the Director, Defense Pricing (DP)/Defense Procurement and Acquisition Policy (DPAP), in the Office of the Secretary of Defense (OSD), U.S. Department of Defense (DoD). He is responsible for contract pricing and procurement policy matters within DoD, whose 30,000 contracting professionals spend over $300 Billion annually. He serves as the principal advisor to the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology and Logistics (USD (AT&L)) and the Defense Acquisition Board on acquisition and procurement negotiation strategies for all major weapon systems programs, and major automated information systems programs. He is responsible for assisting the USD (AT&L) in the implementation of the Department’s operational priorities, including business reform initiatives to reduce operational costs and speed delivery to the warfighter. Mr. Assad is DoD’s senior advisor for all program related contract negotiation matters, to include multiyear contracting. He established and maintains DoD’s peer review program, which supports the Military Components by reviewing contracts to ensure consistency in policy implementation, quality in contracting, and cross-fertilization of best practices across the Defense enterprise. He oversees domestic, international, and contingency contract policy for DoD, including competition, source selection, warranties, leasing, and associated e-business solutions. He is responsible for DoD procurement regulations, providing oversight of the Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement and serving as the DoD member of the Federal Acquisition Regulation council. He also serves as co-leader and proponent of the DoD Pricing and Contracting Functional Community.

Mr. Assad became a federal government civil servant in 2004 as the assistant deputy commandant, installations and logistics for contracts at headquarters, the Marine Corps, Washington, DC, serving as the senior civilian contracting official for the U.S. Marine Corps. Mr. Assad joined OSD in April 2006 as the Director, DPAP, and served in that position through June 2011. During his first tenure as Director, DPAP, he concurrently served in other AT&L leadership positions. In January 2009, he assumed the position of Acting Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Technology; serving in an advisory function to the Secretary, Deputy Secretary, and USD(AT&L) on matters relating to the acquisition, integration and protection of technology. From December 15, 2009 to June 5, 2011, he performed the duties of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Acquisition. In June 2011, he left his role as Director, DPAP to serve in the newly established position of Director, DP. In August 2017, he assumed his second and current tenure leading DPAP, concurrent with his duties as Director, DP.

Prior to his government service, Mr. Assad had a distinguished 22-year private sector career in the defense industry. From 1978 to 2000, Mr. Assad worked for the Raytheon Company, holding positions of increasing authority, including Vice President – Director of Contracts; Senior Vice President, Contracts; Executive Vice President; and Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Raytheon's Engineering and Construction (RE&C) business with eleven offices world-wide, revenue of $2.7 Billion, and 15,000 employees. In his contracting positions at Raytheon, he was responsible for over $20 Billion in contract negotiation and administration activities in all of Raytheon's businesses – both government and commercial. In addition to his contracting duties, Mr. Assad was given numerous program and business management special assignments by Raytheon's Executive Office. These assignments spanned participation in all three of Raytheon's major operating businesses (Government, Aviation, and Engineering and Construction). Following his successive positions within the company, he retired from Raytheon in July 2000.

He has received numerous federal service awards. In December 2015, Mr. Assad was awarded a Distinguished Executive Presidential Rank Award, which recognizes career SES members for extraordinary, sustained service. Earlier, Mr. Assad was awarded the Secretary of Defense Distinguished Service Medal, which is DoD’s highest civilian award. His other awards include: 1) the Secretary of Defense medal for exceptional civilian service; 2) the Secretary of Defense medal for meritorious service; 3) the Department of Defense Inspector General Joseph H. Sherick Award (the highest honor given to non-IG employees); 4) the 24th Annual Gilbert A. Cuneo Lecturer at the Judge Advocate General’s School; 5) the inaugural recipient of the 2008 Osborne A. "Oz" Day Award as the federal executive who has done the most to increase the awareness of Ability One employment opportunities for those who are blind or severely disabled, and 6) the E. Richard "Dick" Alley Career Achievement Award which is given to one federal employee whose long-term dedication and support of the AbilityOne Program is exemplary, and worthy of the Committee's highest recognition; 7) the Defense Acquisition University (DAU)’s David Acker Award for Acquisition Excellence; and 8) a Meritorious Presidential Rank Award.

He was inducted into the DAU Hall of Fame in recognition of his service to DAU. His leadership was instrumental in the establishment of the Defense Acquisition Workforce Development Fund, which serves as a foundation of providing the necessary training to the workforce on an ongoing basis.

Mr. Assad graduated with distinction from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1972; thereafter, he served two tours of duty aboard U.S. Navy destroyers and won recognition as the Outstanding Junior Officer, Fifth Naval District. He then served as a Naval Procurement Officer at the Naval Sea Systems Command.