U.S. Army Celebrates Opening of Army Acquisition Center of Excellence

The U.S. Army marked the opening of the first Army Acquisition Center of Excellence (AACoE) with a ribbon-cutting ceremony Jan. 25, 2011, at the University of Alabama in Huntsville. This facility centralizes Army institutional training, education, and career development courses for the acquisition, logistics, and technology (AL&T) Workforce and will improve the effectiveness of leader development efforts.

Distinguished guests included LTG William N. Phillips, Principal Military Deputy to the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Acquisition, Logistics, and Technology and Director, Acquisition Career Management (DACM); William F. Moore, Deputy to the Commanding General, U.S. Army Combined Arms Support Command; and Dr. David B. Williams, President, University of Alabama in Huntsville.

“What an honor it is for me to be here and take part in something truly special,” Phillips remarked. “This truly is world-class, and many people have contributed to the success of this day.”

Following the ceremony, Phillips and Moore addressed students from the Army Acquisition Basic Course and the Functional Area 51 Intermediate Qualification Course.

By establishing this consolidated training center, the Army will save taxpayers’ money while also providing better education and career development opportunities to the AL&T Workforce. In turn, the workforce will be better equipped to bring Soldiers the warfighting capabilities they need, when they need them.

“One of my top priorities as the Director of Acquisition Career Management is advancing career opportunities for the people who work so hard to execute the acquisition, logistics, and technology mission,” Phillips said. “It requires rebalance and growth across the acquisition workforce for us to continue building a world-class, professional corps of military and civilian members focused on our vital mission. What I see as my No. 1 challenge is supporting Soldiers and getting capability into their hands. This can’t happen efficiently or effectively without a robust, highly skilled, ethical, and professional acquisition workforce.”

The facility’s opening is the culmination of more than a year of planning, after LTG N. Ross Thompson III, Phillips’ predecessor, announced the Army’s intent to establish an AACoE in January 2010. At that time, the Army Acquisition Corps taught courses in the Bevill Center, University of Alabama in Huntsville, and at the Institute for Advanced Technology, University of Texas at Austin. The AACoE is located in the University of Alabama in Huntsville’s Madison Hall.