Certified Defense Acquisition Wargaming Professional (CDAWP) Certification Program by Tonex
The Certified Defense Acquisition Wargaming Professional (CDAWP) Certification Program by Tonex prepares acquisition, engineering, analytical, and defense professionals to apply structured wargaming methods to acquisition planning, capability evaluation, technology investment, requirements development, and program decision-making. Participants learn how to frame acquisition problems, construct decision-focused scenarios, identify assumptions and constraints, develop adjudication approaches, analyze competing courses of action, and translate wargame findings into actionable acquisition recommendations.
The program features a practical training approach that includes exercises, real-world case studies, and examples of processes and documentation used in defense acquisition wargaming projects. Participants examine how wargaming can expose operational dependencies, capability gaps, cost and schedule concerns, technology risks, and alternative investment strategies before major acquisition commitments are made.
Cybersecurity has become an essential consideration because modern defense systems increasingly depend on connected platforms, software, digital engineering, autonomous capabilities, and information networks. Effective acquisition wargaming helps organizations assess cybersecurity vulnerabilities, cyber-contested operating conditions, resilience requirements, and security implications before selecting technologies or acquisition strategies.
Learning Objectives
Upon successful completion of this certification program, participants will be able to:
- Explain the purpose, structure, and value of wargaming within defense acquisition decision-making.
- Develop acquisition-focused scenarios aligned with capability needs, operational environments, and program objectives.
- Establish assumptions, constraints, decision variables, and measures for structured acquisition analysis.
- Apply adjudication methods to evaluate technologies, capabilities, alternatives, and acquisition strategies.
- Interpret wargame results and convert analytical findings into defensible acquisition recommendations.
- Assess uncertainty, risk, cost, schedule, technology maturity, and operational effectiveness during acquisition wargames.
- Incorporate cybersecurity threats, resilience requirements, and cyber-contested conditions into defense acquisition decision analysis.
Audience
This certification program is designed for:
- Defense Acquisition Professionals
- Program Managers
- Systems Engineers
- Capability Development Professionals
- Requirements Analysts
- Defense Wargaming Professionals
- Operations Research Analysts
- Cost and Schedule Analysts
- Technology Assessment Professionals
- Test and Evaluation Professionals
- Defense Strategy Professionals
- Military Planners
- Government Acquisition Personnel
- Cybersecurity Professionals
- Defense Industry Professionals
Program Modules
Module 1: Defense Acquisition Wargaming Foundations and Principles
- Purpose of wargaming in acquisition decisions
- Defense acquisition lifecycle decision points
- Analytical versus experiential wargaming approaches
- Acquisition questions suitable for wargaming
- Stakeholder roles and decision authorities
- Wargaming assumptions and analytical boundaries
- Linking game outcomes to acquisition objectives
Module 2: Acquisition Scenario Design and Development
- Defining acquisition-focused problem statements
- Developing realistic operational contexts
- Identifying mission and capability requirements
- Establishing scenario assumptions and constraints
- Representing adversary and environmental factors
- Structuring alternative acquisition pathways
- Documenting scenario design decisions
Module 3: Capability Alternatives and Technology Evaluation
- Comparing competing capability approaches
- Assessing technology maturity and readiness
- Evaluating operational utility and effectiveness
- Identifying interoperability and integration dependencies
- Examining cost and schedule implications
- Assessing capability gaps and tradeoffs
- Prioritizing promising technology investments
Module 4: Wargame Adjudication and Decision Analysis
- Establishing transparent adjudication frameworks
- Defining decision rules and criteria
- Assessing participant decisions and outcomes
- Managing uncertainty during adjudication
- Applying qualitative and quantitative evidence
- Identifying causal relationships and consequences
- Maintaining analytical consistency and traceability
Module 5: Acquisition Risk and Resilience Assessment
- Identifying acquisition program risk drivers
- Examining technical and integration risks
- Evaluating supply chain dependencies
- Assessing operational resilience requirements
- Incorporating cybersecurity threat considerations
- Examining cost and schedule uncertainty
- Developing risk-informed acquisition responses
Module 6: Findings Integration and Acquisition Recommendations
- Organizing observations and analytical findings
- Distinguishing evidence from participant opinion
- Identifying recurring patterns and decision insights
- Evaluating implications for acquisition strategies
- Developing defensible recommendations for leadership
- Preparing decision briefs and supporting documentation
- Tracking findings into acquisition planning activities
Exam Domains
- Acquisition Decision Environment and Strategic Context
- Scenario Architecture and Analytical Framing
- Capability Investment and Technology Assessment
- Adjudication Governance and Evidence Evaluation
- Program Risk, Security, and Operational Resilience
- Decision Communication and Acquisition Integration
Course Delivery
The course is delivered through a combination of instructor-led lectures, interactive discussions, hands-on workshops, guided exercises, real-world case studies, and project-based learning facilitated by experts in defense acquisition, decision analysis, and wargaming. Participants will have access to supporting readings, case materials, analytical frameworks, planning templates, and tools for practical exercises.
The program uses a practical training approach that includes exercises, real-world case studies, and examples of processes and documentation used in defense acquisition wargaming projects. Activities emphasize acquisition problem framing, scenario development, technology evaluation, decision analysis, risk assessment, adjudication, documentation, and communication of findings to acquisition stakeholders.
Assessment and Certification
Participants will be assessed through quizzes, assignments, case-based exercises, analytical activities, and a capstone project addressing a defense acquisition wargaming challenge. Assessment activities evaluate the participant’s ability to frame acquisition questions, develop scenarios, assess alternatives, apply adjudication methods, analyze risk, interpret findings, and formulate defensible recommendations.
Upon successful completion of the course requirements and certification examination, participants will receive the Certified Defense Acquisition Wargaming Professional (CDAWP) certification.
Question Types
- Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs)
- Scenario-Based Questions
Passing Criteria
To pass the Certified Defense Acquisition Wargaming Professional (CDAWP) Certification Program exam, candidates must achieve a score of 70% or higher.
Take the Next Step
Strengthen your ability to evaluate defense capabilities, technologies, acquisition alternatives, risks, and strategic investment decisions through structured professional wargaming. Enroll in the Certified Defense Acquisition Wargaming Professional (CDAWP) Certification Program by Tonex and develop practical expertise for supporting evidence-based, resilient, and mission-focused defense acquisition decisions.