reality. Perhaps the best example of CHESS customer service would be the end user not even being aware they were leveraging CHESS-managed contracts to get what they need when they need it.
How did you become part of the Army Acquisition Workforce, and why?
My first acquisition assignment was in August 1999, when I was assigned to the RCAS Project Office, an acquisition category
(ACAT) 1AM program then
managed by the National Guard Bureau. [Editor’s note: An ACAT 1AM program is a major automated information system for which the milestone decision authority is the defense acquisition executive.] My divi- sion chief, Angela Green-Mack, had the patience to show me how the acquisition process worked and, as my skills grew, she showed her faith in me by giving me the responsibility and authority to do my job. I have tried to never forget that lesson.
What do you see as the most important points in your career with the Army Acquisition Workforce, and why?
Without a doubt, the most memorable point in my career was my time serving as an assistant product manager (APM) for PM J-AIT. It was a fast-paced assignment, taking over what amounted to a demon- stration project from HQDA just as the conflict in Iraq was starting. While it cer- tainly was stressful forming an organization and relationships under time-constrained conditions, it was very rewarding to see
THAT’S THE SPIRIT Neff, left, in Army service uniform, with CHESS staff participating in the PEO EIS Spirit Day May 29: from left, Sammi Foong, Stacy Watson, Deidre Harris, Irina Nguyen, Dawn Bare and Keith Copeland. (Photo by Miguel Campos, PEO EIS)
cost-effective, commercially available tech- nology enhance the visibility of the supply chain and transportation pipeline. I will never forget those two years as an APM: it is great for any military or civilian acquisi- tion professional to really see and influence the fielding and sustainment of new sys- tems that help Soldiers perform their jobs.
Can you name a particular mentor or mentors who helped you in your career? How did they help you? Have you been a mentor?
I have been very fortunate to have several people who have been instrumental in my professional development and personal growth. One dates back to my time as a field artillery officer assigned to the 25th Infantry Division and my battery commander, then- CPT Warren O’Donell. He showed me what it meant to overcome adversity, and he went on to serve with distinction as a Cen- tralized Selection List program manager at the O-5 and O-6 levels.
Te other person who sticks out is BG Pat- rick Burden. I had the opportunity to serve as his deputy during his product manager assignment. He showed me what it meant to lead, plain and simple. I have tried to apply what BG Burden and COL O’Donell (Ret) taught me when I have been lucky enough to lead program offices. Te rela- tionships I have been able to keep intact as I have moved on to other assignments tell me I have been at least somewhat successful in mentoring others.
What’s the greatest satisfaction you have in being a part of the Army Acquisition Workforce?
Knowing that when we do our job correctly, we are providing Soldiers with the technol- ogy they need to help them perform their job and return home safely with the mission accomplished. Unfortunately, sometimes, it is too easy to forget that, particularly when your duty location is in the national capital region, where so many other organizations that have (often competing) interests in the acquisition process get involved—you can lose sight of why you do what you do.
What advice would you give to someone who wants to get where you are today?
People are what make the acquisition process work, not the technology or the contracts. It took me a long time to really understand that and practice it. Do not be afraid to try new things. When I was first assigned to the RCAS Program Office in 1999, the most advanced computer technol- ogy I had ever used was probably a dial-up AOL account. I was fortunate enough to be surrounded by leaders and co-workers who were supportive, and that assignment pro- vided the foundation of a rewarding career. While I did not appreciate it enough at the time, it was the quality of those people in that first program office that has made this journey so much fun.
—MS. SUSAN L. FOLLETT
ASC.ARMY.MIL
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