PROMISES TO KEEP


for integration, and joint PEO for the Joint Tactical Radio System.


What I discovered early on is that acquisition is unlike any other career field. We procure products for the United States Army that in some cases will be operated by our sons and daughters and probably even our granddaughters and grandsons. So it is important that we get it right. For this reason, let me share with you some of the lessons I’ve learned—in a few cases the hard way—about meeting the needs of our Soldiers.


• Keep in mind that the program you manage or support is an Army pro- gram. It does not belong to you. You are in charge of delivering a capability.


• Develop and maintain a close, personal relationship with the user. You cannot do this by email or fiat. Be engaged.


• Be the smartest person in the room when it comes to the program you manage. Articulate clearly how the needs of the Soldier are being met. Our job is to manage risk and under- stand the critical path of our programs in every respect, not just cost, sched- ule and performance.


• Honesty is important in every respect, whether the news is good or bad. the


• Solve problems you


seek immediate help for cannot. Delay will not improve the outcome.


can and


those you control nor


• Know how to assess, identify and manage risks.


• Be creative and innovative in finding efficiencies.


• Know your contract, contracting officer and Defense Contract Management Agency what


representative, the contractor


• Recognize the talents of your team and leverage them.


114 Army AL&T Magazine July–September 2014 understand is responsible


for delivering, and provide feedback to the contractor.


INDUSTRIAL BASE ACCESS


Jeff Hendriks at the Rock Island Arsenal Joint Manufacturing and Technology Center, IL, works on assembling the shelter for the latest M997A3 Ambulance in January, for fielding to Army National Guard units. The past 12-plus years of operations in two theaters have seen the Army develop solid relationships with its industrial base partners. (Photo by SFC Shannon M. Wright, U.S. Army Materiel Command)


ENGINE OF VICTORY Soldiers of the 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division (1-4 ID) pull an engine from a Double-V-Hull Stryker, with instruction from contractors of General Dynamics Corp., May 5 dur- ing field-level maintenance new equipment training at Fort Carson, CO. Development and fielding of the Double-V-Hull Stryker has contributed directly to warfighters’ success on the battlefield and is one of many accomplishments of which the AL&T Workforce can be proud. (U.S. Army photo by SPC William Howard, 1-4 ID Public Affairs)


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