Six months after the Defense Contract Audit Agency (DCAA) made its major reorganization, it made another one: the elimination of its Field Detachment (FD) as a separate entity within DCAA. The Field Detachment was a separate entity within DCAA that handled DCAA’s classified audit work. It was a separate and distinct DCAA entity from the current Land, Air, and Sea Directorates of DCAA.
Except for a small number of Field Detachment’s projects, Field Detachment’s workload will be distributed to DCAA’s Land, Sea, and Air Directorates. That small number of Field Detachment projects will be managed, for now, out of DCAA’s Headquarters Operations element. Field Detachment was separated from DCAA’s non-classified workload so it could handle this sensitive classified workload consistently within classified government channels and protections. This movement of Field Detachment to DCAA’s three directorates may bring about some cultural changes in how classified workload is planned and conducted within a DCAA directorate that primarily handles unclassified audit work.
Below is the DCAA organization as of September 30, 2025, the end of the Government’s Fiscal Year 2025. Note that Field Detachment is circled and is eliminated at this time.
Ms. Jennifer Desautel, DCAA’s Director, stated in DCAA’s April 2025 reorganization announcement that the April 2025 reorganization was the first phase of efforts to streamline and position DCAA for future success, which suggested that further changes were to come. This change in the elimination of Field Detachment is a subtle one, and DCAA has not formally announced it at this time. The impact on DCAA will not be significant, and Field Detachment’s leadership has been absorbed into DCAA’s other organizations or has taken retirement or separation from government service.
Impact on Organization and Contractors
In the immediate future, the impact on former Field Detachment contractors may not be significant, as you will likely still have the same DCAA office, which will now be part of the DCAA Land, Sea, or Air Directorate. However, as time goes on, watch how DCAA may balance its workload among the DCAA’s three directorates, and there is potential that your office can change. This is all part of the ongoing changes within government at this time, of which DCAA is just part.
Support for Audit Readiness and Compliance
Redstone Government Consulting provides comprehensive support to help government contractors prepare for and navigate audits with confidence. Our team offers staff training tailored to audit and compliance requirements, reviews submissions to ensure accuracy, and assists with managing the complexities of government contract compliance. We provide specialized consulting to prepare for DCAA audits, develop compliant accounting systems, and address audit findings, as well as support with FAR and CAS compliance. Additionally, we guide contractors in establishing internal controls and processes that reduce risk, enhance accountability, and ensure readiness for both routine reviews and in-depth audits. Through these services, we help government contractors strengthen their compliance infrastructure and maintain effective working relationships with government agencies.
David (Dave) Fix is a Director with Redstone Government Consulting, Inc. He provides Government Contract Consulting services to our Government contractors primarily related to compliance with Federal Acquisition Regulations and Cost Accounting Standards, equitable adjustment claims, and business systems. Prior to joining Redstone Government Consulting, Dave served in a number of capacities with DCAA for over 35 years. Upon his retirement, Dave was a Regional Audit Manager with DCAA. Dave began his DCAA career in 1986 as an auditor-trainee with the General Electric Suboffice in Pittsfield, Massachusetts. He progressed from auditor to DCAA management ranks serving in DCAA offices in Upstate New York, Columbus, Ohio and Greensboro, North Carolina in audits of major and non-major contractors. Dave served DCAA in three overseas tours, all as Branch Manager, in Kuwait/Iraq (2007), Afghanistan (2010-2012) and Kuwait (2014). Dave was promoted to Regional Special Programs Manager (RSPM) in 2015 before ultimately becoming a Regional Audit Manager (RAM) in October 2019. While a RSPM, Dave worked with DCAA’s other three RSPMs with updating the Agency-wide audit planning process including assigning priorities and determining funded/unfunded audits that is currently being used by DCAA. While a RAM, Dave had overall management responsibility for audits performed by approximately 140 employees including one of DCAA’s largest shipyards. During his career, he served as guest instructor at DCAA’s Defense Contract Audit Institute (DCAI) bringing field perspective to “Advance Auditing Issues” and “Supervisors’ Course” as well as served as a DCAI adjunct instructor over DCAA auditors’ initial two-week training course prior to his retirement. Dave served 36 years in the Air Force Reserve/Air National Guard in both enlisted and officer positions retiring at the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. His last duty station was Air Force Reserve Command (AFRC) Headquarters, Robins Air Force Base, Inspector General Office serving as the Chief, Contracting Inspections leading inspections of AFRC’s 10 contracting offices as well as assisting in inspections of AFRC finance offices. Dave currently specializes in preparing clients for more complex DCAA audits, providing advice on FAR cost principles and contracts regulatory provisions and in assisting clients in anticipating and addressing audit.