his first assignment in acquisition, as a second lieutenant in the Air Force, Lt. Col. Michael Hurt “was a very good mentor. He was knowledgeable and shared that knowledge with those of us just beginning in acquisition. We were given responsibility and guidance, then allowed to execute the task at hand. His willingness to allow young officers to accomplish tasks without micromanaging enabled me to learn and grow my knowledge quickly. And on those few occasions when I made a mistake, he would use those as learning opportunities rather than disciplin- ary events.” Nevins also praised an industry supervisor, James Whatley, for his mentoring. “He demonstrated effective ways to direct effort while coaching his subordinates to success. I was challenged with new assignments that I hadn’t previously expe- rienced, and he would be there as a resource, or coach, when I got to a point where I needed help.”
Nevins was one of two people to receive the 2016 Army Acquisi- tion Executive’s Excellence in Leadership Awards in the Support Professional of the Year category. Nevins “demonstrated out- standing system engineering skills overseeing development and sustainment of the M270A1 launcher,” said Barry Pike, the pro- gram executive officer, who nominated Nevins for the award, noting the support he provided to the Improved Armored Cab (IAC) and Fire Control System – Update (FCS-U) programs.
ROCKET LAUNCHER MAN
Nevins stands before an M270A1 field artillery launcher. “It’s a system that is well-liked and has proven to be extremely effective in executing its mission,” he said. (Photo courtesy of Lawrence Nevins)
“His superb leadership and dedication to the mission resulted in the successful design and production of new IAC and FCS-U prototypes for the Army.” Receiving the award “was very hum- bling,” said Nevins, “and at the same time, it’s very gratifying to see our efforts recognized.”
active duty and the remainder as a reservist. “With the combina- tion of prior military acquisition experience and knowledge of industry practices in product development, I am able to provide a balanced view to my team members, peers and senior manage- ment to help accomplish the organization’s goals effectively and efficiently,” he said.
He spelled out what he’s learned from his previous assignments.
“My initial military acquisition background and subsequent industry experiences taught me the importance of genuinely valuing the people who work with you and for you. A team will accomplish much more when the team members know their leader values their opinion and effort.”
Several of his supervisors, military and civilian, understood how to delegate without micromanaging and how to encour- age professional growth through new tasks, he noted. “I am grateful to them for challenging and coaching me,” he said. In
When he’s not at work, Nevins pursues his interest in portrait and landscape photography and provides career counseling ser- vices. He’s also active in a handful of projects at his church. “All of my activities, at work and away from work, are about building relationships,” he said. “Relationships are the key to achieving any goal.”
Looking to move along a path similar to Nevins? Slow down, he advised. “Don’t be in too much of a hurry to move up. Allow yourself time to thoroughly understand and execute your current assignment before moving to another.” He also recom- mended obtaining career field certifications—and holding on to the course materials. “Te classes contain very good informa- tion, but it will be forgotten if you are not using it. Don’t forget to revisit the material when you begin a new phase of a program, to refresh your knowledge.”
—MS. SUSAN L. FOLLETT
ASC.ARMY.MIL 147
WORKFORCE
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