In the past, Major IT Programs at DHS suffered due to lack of transparency, long time frames to deliver, unclear requirements, and inefficient processes and guidelines for scheduling and budgeting. In 2016, the Agile Acquisition Working Group (AAWG) identified five major IT programs to pilot the adoption of leading-edge best practices from Lean and Agile industry to transform the acquisition and delivery of IT capabilities. DHS continues to maintain an Agile atmosphere, updating policy and governance, facilitating learning opportunities, and encouraging Programs and Components to strive for higher levels of IT Maturity, seen most prominently in its current SecDevOps Campaign. DHS Strategic Technology Management Director Bill Pratt will describe the department’s journey, including pitfalls the team experienced along the way and share tips and tricks that helped them succeed.
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    William Pratt
    Director of Strategic Technology Management in the Chief Technology Officer Directorate at DHS
    Mr. Bill Pratt, Director of Strategic Technology Management in the Chief Technology Officer Directorate at DHS, is leading IT Acquisition and Systems Engineering Governance, Program Health Assessment, Program Support, and Digital Transformation at DHS. Mr. Pratt coordinated the adoption of Agile/Incremental software development as the preferred process at DHS, achieving 100% Agile adoption rate for projects supporting major investments. Currently, his team is working to streamline the IT acquisition lifecycle techniques, including plans to leverage SecDevOps, AI, and RPA. Mr. Pratt has over 35-years of experience in IT acquisition and systems engineering, supporting the federal government and private industry.