EMPOWERED TO WIN


Albert “Al” Klobchar is the acquisition manager for Project Manager Combat Ammu- nition Systems (PM CAS) within Joint Program Executive Office Armaments and Ammunition (JPEO A&A). He is responsible for overseeing Acquisition Category (ACAT) I-IV program acquisition planning and contract execution for conventional and precision 155 mm artillery ammunition, propellants, mortar ammunition and weapon systems, as well as associated equipment. He provides strategic leadership in his role through managing a portfolio, he explained, that contains approximately 300 active contracts for more than 100 programs.


ALBERT “AL” KLOBCHAR


COMMAND/ORGANIZATION: Project Manager Combat Ammunition Systems TITLE: Acquisition manager YEARS OF SERVICE IN WORKFORCE: 18


DAWIA CERTIFICATIONS: DOD Contracting Professional


EDUCATION: M.S. in management, Florida Institute of Technology; B.S. in communications, Indiana University of Pennsylvania


AWARDS: Civilian Service Achievement Medal (2024); PM CAS Leader of the Year Award (2022); PM CAS Excellence in Con- tracting (2021, 2016); Commander’s Award for Civilian Service (2014)


In fiscal year 2023, he led a branch of 12 acquisition professionals who successfully completed procurement planning activities for more than seven million artillery and mortar end-items comprising of many component contract actions for a total value of more than $4.5 billion. “Te PM CAS teams are leaders in conventional artillery and mortars for the U.S. Army. It’s very satisfying to be a part of this process that enables the Army and allies to provide overmatching capability and ultimately save lives,” Klob- char said.


Like many young college graduates, Klobchar said he had no idea what he wanted to do for a living. He “desperately” needed an internship to finish his degree and he applied to be a summer hire at Army Contracting Command – New Jersey (ACC-NJ) as a contract specialist.


“My goal was to put in my time for three months, graduate and head south for warmer weather and beaches. But, when I arrived, I found the ammunition products to be very interesting; how they are developed, procured, manufactured and perform,” he said. “I also quickly found mentors and saw a direct path for growth, so I decided to ‘extend my internship’ for another 18 years and counting.”


Much of Klobchar’s early contracting and acquisition experience was in precision muni- tions, to include initial variants of the Precision Guidance Kit and the 155 mm Excalibur projectile. “When I explain how these products utilize GPS at extended ranges to guide projectiles to precise targets, my family and friends are genuinely shocked,” he said. “It’s a great testament to the brilliant engineers at PM CAS and I’m proud I get to continue to oversee the acquisition process for these munitions and other important products.”


“Troughout the duration of my career, I’ve been very lucky to work with senior leaders that empower me and provide me with the opportunity to perform to my fullest poten- tial,” he said. For instance, when the Army Acquisition Executive, the Honorable Douglas


“I quickly found mentors and saw a direct path for growth.”


98 Army AL&T Magazine Fall 2024


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52  |  Page 53  |  Page 54  |  Page 55  |  Page 56  |  Page 57  |  Page 58  |  Page 59  |  Page 60  |  Page 61  |  Page 62  |  Page 63  |  Page 64  |  Page 65  |  Page 66  |  Page 67  |  Page 68  |  Page 69  |  Page 70  |  Page 71  |  Page 72  |  Page 73  |  Page 74  |  Page 75  |  Page 76  |  Page 77  |  Page 78  |  Page 79  |  Page 80  |  Page 81  |  Page 82  |  Page 83  |  Page 84  |  Page 85  |  Page 86  |  Page 87  |  Page 88  |  Page 89  |  Page 90  |  Page 91  |  Page 92  |  Page 93  |  Page 94  |  Page 95  |  Page 96  |  Page 97  |  Page 98  |  Page 99  |  Page 100  |  Page 101  |  Page 102  |  Page 103  |  Page 104  |  Page 105  |  Page 106  |  Page 107  |  Page 108  |  Page 109  |  Page 110  |  Page 111  |  Page 112  |  Page 113  |  Page 114  |  Page 115  |  Page 116  |  Page 117  |  Page 118  |  Page 119  |  Page 120