Dawn Messer
Acting Director, Defense Acquisition Regulations System
Ms. Dawn Messer serves as the Acting Director for Defense Acquisition Regulations System (DARS) in the office of the Principal Director, Defense Pricing, Contracting, and Acquisition Policy (DPCAP), within the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment (OUSD(A&S), U.S. Department of Defense (DoD). She chairs the Defense Acquisition Regulations (DAR) Council and is responsible for developing and maintaining acquisition rules and guidance in support of DoD's acquisition of goods and services to support the Warfighter.
As chair of the DAR Council, Ms. Messer leads the DAR Council in developing and maintaining the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) and the Defense FAR Supplement (DFARS). The DAR System provides support to the FAR Council; publishes the DFARS and the DFARS companion resource, Procedures, Guidance, and Information (PGI); accepts and resolves public comments on proposed and interim DFARS rules; issues and maintains Class Deviations; and provides acquisition policy guidance.
Prior to her current assignment, Ms. Messer served as the Deputy Director of DARS and as a senior procurement analyst in OUSD(A&S)/DPCAP Contract Policy. In addition, she served as a senior procurement analyst, editor of the Air Force FAR Supplement, and DAR Council Representative in the Office of the Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Acquisition (Contracting). Her more than 23 years of work experience includes contracting for major weapons systems sustainment and engineering services, contractor logistics support, aircraft support equipment, and base level support.
Ms. Messer attended Glenville State College and the University of Oklahoma. She is a member of the Defense Acquisition Corps and is DAWIA Level III certified in the acquisition career field of Contracting.