DISA JELAs prioritize user experience and warfighter readiness
By David White, DISA Acquisitions
August 4, 2025
Marines await radio communication during Exercise Typhoon Crossbow on Iwo Jima, Japan, June 6, 2025. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Joaquin Dela Torre)
In today's rapidly evolving technological landscape, the Defense Department faces the critical challenge of equipping Warfighters and mission partners with the best IT solutions. While cost-effectiveness remains paramount, user experience is increasingly critical in acquisition decisions. The Defense Information Systems Agency’s Joint Enterprise Licensing Agreement Program Management Office offers a compelling alternative to traditional government-wide acquisition contracts by prioritizing user experience alongside cost savings.
JELA vs. GWAC
GWACs typically offer the best cost savings and fastest acquisition for the federal government. However, they may not address the specific needs of programs and missions requiring more than a discounted price. DISA JELA PMO prioritizes customer experience. Some capabilities are commercial off-the-shelf products suitable for quick transactions, while others require more interactive solutions and ongoing engagement with industry.
DISA JELA PMO's vision is to pioneer IT acquisition solutions through long-term industry and DOD partnerships. Its mission focuses DOD IT resources on sustaining the warfighter's mission. As DOD agents, the program management office has a fiduciary responsibility to be responsible with taxpayer dollars and achieve best value, which does not always mean the lowest-cost technically acceptable solution. JELA contracts seek best value for the end-user, strengthen DOD's buying power, and support strategic sourcing objectives.
This strategic focus aligns with DOD leadership initiatives emphasizing user experience. The creation of chief experience officer roles underscores the link between user experience and military readiness. DISA Director and DOD Cyber Defense Command Commander Army Lt. Gen. Paul T. Stanton's priorities are readiness, campaigning, continuous modernization and establish lethality. The JELA structure enables communication and stakeholder alignment to achieve these objectives.
Enhancing Readiness
Prioritizing user experience in military technology and processes is a strategic imperative directly impacting operational readiness and well-being. Intuitive design, efficient workflows and user-centered solutions improve training effectiveness, reduce errors, accelerate response times and increase adoption rates of new technologies, strengthening overall readiness and positively influencing morale. DISA JELA PMO recognizes strong user experience as a force multiplier.
The program management office focuses on three key user experience aspects:
- Application/capability experience: Ensuring the solution is intuitive, effective and meets user needs.
- Vendor support: Providing timely and effective support to address user issues and maximize the solution's potential.
- Procurement execution: Streamlining the procurement process to minimize delays and ensure timely access to critical IT resources.
Four Pillars
- Enterprise Impact: Consolidating IT under a single enterprise enables unified pricing, terms and conditions, oversight and program management, fostering a more efficient and cost-effective approach to IT procurement.
- Risk Management: Facilitating collaboration across the DOD user base allows proactive risk management and continuous refinement of strategic plans.
- Readiness: Promoting joint tools and modernization enhances interoperability and facilitates seamless collaboration in joint operations, supporting DISA's mission.
- Relationship Building: Fostering strong industry partnerships enables open communication about challenges, impacts, mission success and use cases.
The Future
The JELA program is evolving to further integrate user experience, including:
- CXO Integration: Engaging with CXOs across the DOD to incorporate their insights into the JELA experience and metric ecosystem. DISA JELA PMO gauges peer CXO needs across DOD to drive enterprise outcomes through strong strategic partnerships and align DOD business goals with experience and preferred outcomes.
- Strategic guidance: Aligning JELA initiatives with CXO and senior leader priorities.
- IT governance: Ensuring JELA contracts adhere to established IT governance frameworks.
- Performance management: Implementing data-driven metrics aligned with organizational business needs.
- User experience: Continuously improving the experience for all stakeholders.
Value proposition
JELAs offer a unique value proposition to warfighters, mission partners and industry by:
- Providing access to top industry experts: Ensuring DOD customers (Army, Air Force, Navy, fourth estate agencies) have access to needed expertise.
- Creating value streams for training: Ensuring all DOD customers under the JELA receive adequate training.
- Aligning with SECDEF Initiatives: Supporting the secretary of defense's efforts to secure the best pricing.
- Fostering strong industry relationships: Creating a collaborative environment incentivizing exceptional service and support.
DISA JELA PMO and Defense Information Technology Contracting Organization-Scott acquisition professionals are committed to providing IT solutions that meet technical requirements, enhance user experience and contribute to warfighter readiness. By prioritizing user experience, fostering strong industry partnerships and embracing data-driven performance management, the JELA program enables a more effective IT acquisition process. The program remains focused on aligning DOD business goals with practical experience and preferred outcomes, ensuring warfighters have the tools they need.
For more information, email the DISA Joint Enterprise Licensing Agreement Program Management Office at disa.meade.acq.mbx.disa-jela-team@mail.mil.