had my first PD position and then career- broadening assignments as a business manager for two different project offices before being selected for product director.
Bottom line, while my path hasn’t been a traditional one, I hit the major end points and achieved the same blocks on the model—just in a much different fashion. My story isn’t much different than several of the others in the PD selection group, and I’ve seen it repeated often among civilians in the acquisition workforce: Tere’s a large portion of our core, matrix and contractor workforce who have a military background or are retired from active duty.
What do you think was the single most important thing you did to get where you are today?
Learned, grew and listened to my coaches, mentors and others in the operational Army as well as the test and program manage- ment communities to understand my roles, how to form the right team and how to meet the requirements that we had before us. And in every job, I found a way to influ- ence others and to lead and manage teams that got the outcomes and the results that benefited the Soldier and accomplished our mission as well as the visions of the organi- zations we were in.
Did a mentor or mentors (or being a mentor) make a big difference in your career advancement? If so, how?
Absolutely! From the early days of NCOs [noncommissioned officers] taking a young second lieutenant under their wings to the professional warrant office pilots to more senior military leaders, I have had coaches and mentors in an informal manner. It was not until I was in the SSCF and the Aviation and Missile Command’s Leader Investment for Tomorrow programs that I participated in formal mentorship programs.
TAKING OFF
Michael Switzer, a former test pilot, and his team completed an acquisition for the Army Golden Knights sports parachute team three years ago. From left are Switzer; pilots Ken Breeden and Kelly Caudle; Contracting Officer Kim Gillies and Program Integrator Ken Ols. (Photo courtesy of Michael Switzer)
During my nearly seven years as a DA civil- ian, Paul Bogosian from PEO Aviation has been a great mentor and role model for me. Without his mentoring, my transition from the military may not have been as smooth. I have always attempted to give back from the great lessons learned and examples my coaches and mentors have given me to my workforce and others where and when I can, both in my professional life and in my community. If everyone focused more on others, our organizations and the world would be better off.
Were there career-broadening experi- ences that helped in a critical way?
While in special operations, I was on an extended temporary duty assignment that supported developmental flight tests of the MH-47G aircraft and its multimode radar system. I met and worked with military and civilian test pilots and engineers, and that really helped solidify my goal to be Army engineering test pilot. Several other factors
contributed as well, including my expo- sure to other services and foreign nations and the different approaches to acquisition management and T&E. Tere are many innovative ways of doing the same business, and sharing lessons learned and other per- spectives broadens the options and can lead to better outcomes.
What has been your biggest surprise as a member of the Army Acquisition Workforce?
Te professionalism and dedication of our civilian and industry workforce. I knew the military side quite well from my 26 years in the Army. Beginning in about 1993, I really started working with DA civilians and contractor industry partners. Without this team, the Acquisition Corps and the acquisition workforce, would not be able to carry out its mission and support the Sol- dier as well as we do.
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