IT Modernization Case Study for OPM

ACQ 3200 Adversarial Foreign Investment and National Security

Client Information

The Defense Acquisition University (DAU) is the Department of Defense’s central training institution for acquisition professionals. DAU equips the Defense Acquisition Workforce with the skills and knowledge needed to deliver effective, affordable warfighting capabilities, strengthening national security through agile, mission-ready acquisition support.

Challenge(s)

The DOD identified an urgent need to educate acquisition personnel on the growing threat posed by adversarial foreign investments, specifically those that attempt to acquire access to sensitive U.S. technologies through economic and financial channels. Learners needed a deep understanding of how these threats manifest, and how to assess and mitigate risks through regulatory, strategic, and acquisition-related responses. With thousands of pages of source material and over a dozen subject matter experts, DAU needed an exceptionally capable partner to design an impactful learning experience.

Solution(s)

CTEC designed ACQ 3200 as a multimedia-rich, hybrid e-Learning course blending live-action video with interactive cartoon sequences. This engaging narrative follows a Scooby-Doo-style “mystery” team navigating concepts like the “Wheel of Death,” “Valley of Death,” and Risk-Based Analysis (RBA). Learners explore real-world-inspired case studies involving compromised supply chains and shadowy foreign investors, all while earning “ACQ Snacks” through knowledge checks. The course’s structure empowers learners to apply frameworks such as the Contracting Cone and risk calculus to authentic national security scenarios. The result is a dynamic, immersive learning experience that blends humor, urgency, and real-world policy education.