fielding team to implement the recom- mended solution.
Developing systems to fill capability gaps at NIE plays an important part in improv- ing the Army’s capability. We want to bring the best solutions and products to make the Soldiers’ lives better. Reducing the labor and maintenance required to deploy and maintain the systems is better for the Soldier and the Army as a whole.
Power assessments improve a unit’s mis- sion capability. Our team has conducted assessments where a unit was experienc- ing multiple power outages each day and living and working in shelters without air conditioning, in areas where the tempera- ture was in excess of 120 degrees and 90 percent humidity. You can imagine the impact this has on personnel day after day. Providing the proper conditions for our Soldiers to conduct their mission is vitally important to mission success.
How did you become part of the AL&T Workforce, and why?
After leaving the Army, I worked for sev- eral contractors supporting Army and Navy programs as a trainer, technical writer, manager and network administra- tor. In 1999, after acquiring my Microsoft Certified System Engineer certification, I accepted a position as a contractor sup- porting PEO Soldier. After five years as a contractor, I applied for a government civilian position because I wanted to have more of an impact. As a contractor, you’re limited in influencing the process and decisions being made. I wanted to have a greater impact on what we were doing to support
the Soldiers. I saw being a
contractor as a roadblock to being able to apply all of my skills.
What do you see as the most important points in your career with the Army
AL&T Workforce, and why? Is there a program or opportunity you wish you had pursued but didn’t?
My deployment to Iraq in 2007 in sup- port of the Land Warrior system—Nett Warrior’s predecessor—was an impor- tant event during my career. Being able to interface with the Soldiers returning from a mission in which they used the system—to receive issues in real time— was extremely beneficial. It was as close as I could get to seeing the system operate in the intended environment. My career has allowed me to work in logistics, engineer- ing and management, which has allowed me to understand all the different aspects of acquisition.
Te one thing that I wish I would have done a better job in is seeking out men- tors. Finding people willing to mentor DOD civilians is not easy. Most officers I have associated with do not under- stand the civilian career path in DOD acquisition. Serving a short three years at the USAASC taught me how the Army Acquisition Corps (AAC) operates. It is valuable to understand how officers and civilians are assigned to Centrally Selected List positions and table of distri- bution and allowances management. My assignment at USAASC changed how I viewed my career within the AAC. It provided me a better understanding of what was available to me to progress in my career.
What’s the greatest satisfaction you have in being a part of the AL&T Workforce?
Supporting our Soldiers is why I am here. Having been a Soldier, I know the importance of providing them the best equipment we can. In 2007, I was given the opportunity to deploy with the Soldiers in Iraq using the Land Warrior system for the first time in combat. Because of the
time I served in the military and my mili- tary occupational specialty as an atomic demolition specialist, I was never sent into battle. Working with the Soldier, improving the system based on real-time feedback and seeing the system perform in the environment it was intended to work in was a great feeling.
Acquisition is a very broad term encom- passing a lot of different job specialties, with many career tools available to them. What advice would you give to someone who wants to get where you are today?
Tere are many ways one can support the acquisition of systems. I would recom- mend that personnel in acquisition get involved in areas other than the one area you work in. Te Army tries to assign officers in different areas to broaden their experience. Tis is hard to do on the civil- ian side because of the time required for certifications. One needs to stay focused in his or her career field. But this does not prevent you from seeking out individuals in other areas and asking them questions and learning how they look at acquisition.
What’s something that most people don’t know about your job? What sur- prises outsiders most when you tell them about your job?
Tis is a difficult question for me to answer. When I leave work, I try to leave work at work. Tis comes from my days when I worked on classified programs and was not permitted to talk about work outside the office place. Most of my friends don’t know what I do beyond working for the Army. I spend most time talking to my friends about Freemasonry or woodworking.
—MR. STEVE STARK
ASC.ARMY.MIL
13
ACQUISITION
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