Full Name
Ms. Margaret Boatner, SES
Job Title
Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Army (Strategy and Acquisition Reform)
Company
U.S. Army
Speaker Bio
Ms. Margaret Boatner is the Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Army for Strategy and Acquisition Reform (DASA(SAR)). In this role, she serves as the principal advisor to the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Acquisition, Logistics and Technology (ASA(ALT)) for the design and implementation of acquisition policy and related reform initiatives. Ms. Boatner is also responsible for leading analysis and implementation of legislation within the Army acquisition enterprise.

Ms. Boatner previously served as the Principal Director within the Office of the DASA(SAR). Her responsibilities included managing day-to-day operations and coordination of key acquisition policy matters across Army and OSD headquarters. Ms. Boatner also served as Acting DASA(SAR) between June-August 2020 and December 2020-September 2021. In these capacities, Ms. Boatner led the development and coordination of the first Army-wide policy on intellectual property, establishing a framework for the identification and negotiation of data rights in system development. In addition, Ms. Boatner spearheaded the advanced manufacturing policy initiative designed to facilitate the Army’s adoption of manufacturing capabilities to include additive manufacturing, automation, and digital engineering.

From February 2016 to June 2018, Ms. Boatner served as Senior Advisor to the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Manpower and Reserve Affairs. In this role, she was responsible for providing advice and counsel regarding all Air Force military and civilian personnel issues. As Senior Advisor, Ms. Boatner led a cross-agency team to develop a set of landmark initiatives to promote diversity and inclusion in Air Force military and civilian ranks and led a task force to reduce regulatory burdens on Airmen by reducing unnecessary and redundant training requirements.

From September 2015 to February 2016, Ms. Boatner served as the Director of Initiatives within the Office of the Principal Deputy ASA(ALT). She led several high visibility acquisition initiatives, including the Army’s contribution to the revisions to Department of Defense Instruction 5000.01 and the drafting of legislative proposals to streamline and improve the acquisition process for major developmental programs.

From July 2014 to September 2015, Ms. Boatner served as the Special Assistant to the Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Army for Procurement. During her tenure, Ms. Boatner led implementation of the

“Superior Supplier Incentive Program” designed to incentivize Defense suppliers by recognizing top performing vendors providing goods and services to the Department of the Army.

Ms. Boatner received a Master of Business Administration from Georgetown University and a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from the University of Mary Washington. Ms. Boatner also currently serves as a member of the College of Business Executive Advisory Board at the University of Mary Washington.
Margaret Boatner, SES