ARMY AL&T
goal of the program is to achieve the next level of responsibility as an NH-04,” he said. “For me, that could be a branch or divi- sion chief or a project lead for one of the many program offices for one of the program executive officers or other commands,” he said. “Te Army as a whole is very good at developing leaders.”
According to Swinford, leadership starts at the ground level. In addition to knowledge and expertise, it’s also about interpersonal relationships, laughing and having some fun. Before joining the acquisition workforce, Swinford served in the Army for four years, and said his experiences as a Soldier prepared him in many ways for the civilian roles that followed.
Swinford said he will never forget the time his drill sergeant in basic training told him that he “reminded him of someone who shot at him once.” Or the time he arranged a conference room prom at lunchtime for a colleague who never got to attend one in high school. Or the time he was the new Department of the Army System Coordinator with the responsibility of escorting a visiting colonel to a meeting and, somehow, he got both of them lost at the Pentagon.
Tese experiences may seem unrelated, but not when you look at them in terms of communication and positive outcomes. Swin- ford said the Army is, after all, in the people business. “Each of these experiences has made me the individual and leader I am working to become,” he said.
Communication and dealing with all personality types are just two of the reasons Swinford enlisted in the Army. Another was to take advantage of the unique opportunity for personal and professional growth and development.
“I was born and raised in a small town called Fayetteville [Tennessee]. Like many small towns, there were not a lot of job opportunities and between my mom passing away when I was seven, and my dad who was disabled, there was not much money for college. Terefore, I decided to take advantage of what mili- tary service could provide and, put simply, it was a way out. I tell people that I joined the Army to see the world and got stationed 30 minutes from home at Redstone Arsenal [Alabama]. I had no clue what I was getting myself into. Looking back, it was the best decision career-wise that I would make,” he said.
When Swinford was up for reenlistment, he found himself at a crossroads professionally, but the advice from his command sergeant major, Jack Hoffman, helped put things into perspec- tive. “He sat me down and said, ‘Cody, you can take your military
REMARKABLE ACHIEVEMENTS
Lt. Gen. Robert Marion, principal military deputy for the Army Acquisition Executive, previously the deputy for acquisition and systems management (DASM), left, and Col. Willie Coleman (Ret.), right, DASM, presented Swinford with the Army Achievement Award for Civilian Service in 2018. (Photo courtesy of Swinford)
experience of four years and get out and complete your educa- tion, or if you decide to sign up for an additional four years, you would have eight years in and at that point, you might as well complete the 20 years and retire and then have a second career,’ he said. “I chose the first option.”
“At that time, I was working toward a degree in education. I thought I wanted to teach.” Swinford said he pursued his degree while working several jobs, including the seafood department of Winn Dixie Supermarket, as a teller at Redstone Federal Credit Union, and a camp counselor at the U.S. Space and Rocket Center, until he received his bachelor’s degree in secondary educa- tion from Athens State University in 1998.
“I had no leads or offers for a teaching position, so I took a job with the State of Tennessee in the Department of Human Services until I was selected for the …intern program as a budget analyst,” he said. Seeing how his role directly supported the Soldiers in the field gave him a purpose and mission.
“Being in the acquisition workforce, it’s my job to ensure our Soldiers have the system or equipment within budget, on time, and in perfect working condition so that they can do their jobs and be ready to defend our freedom at any point and anywhere in the world,” he said. “If my actions play a role in making them successful, then I have done my job.”
—CHERYL MARINO
https://asc.ar my.mil
61
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 |
Page 121 |
Page 122 |
Page 123 |
Page 124 |
Page 125 |
Page 126 |
Page 127 |
Page 128 |
Page 129 |
Page 130 |
Page 131 |
Page 132 |
Page 133 |
Page 134 |
Page 135 |
Page 136 |
Page 137 |
Page 138 |
Page 139 |
Page 140
