ENABLING MODERNIZATION
are aligned and focused on the mission at hand.” Fortunately, he has the experience to support that effort. Before his arrival at PEO EIS, he served as the acting director of investments in the Army Budget Office (ABO), where he was responsible for the budgeting and execution of the Army’s $34 billion research and development and procurement portfolio. “Tat experi- ence in the Pentagon and the ABO helps inform how we execute our participation in the software pilot—now, I often look at things from a financial perspective, first.”
When he gives advice to junior acquisi- tion personnel, however, it often involves the lesson he first learned as a teen. “Integ- rity is number one and communication is crucial,” he said. “In acquisition, we have to make every effort to make sure stake- holders are on the same sheet of music.” It makes sense for a former Black Hawk pilot to place a high value on communication— in the cockpit, after all, communication issues can be catastrophic. No matter the rank or position of the crew members on board, each has a vital part to play and they all must ensure communication is clear.
BACK IN THE DAY Taylor in a cockpit of a Black Hawk helicopter. (Photo courtesy of Col. Mark Taylor)
"Wherever we
are in the Army, we are all trying to accomplish the same mission.
"
Never was this more evident to Taylor than when he served as company commander for Alpha Company, 12th Aviation Battalion at Fort Belvoir, Virginia. “Miscommu- nication can be deadly,” he said. “In the aviation community, we made a conscious effort to make sure the enlisted members knew they could speak to the pilots openly, because you don’t want any of that hesi- tation about ‘I don’t want to get yelled at for bringing that up.’ Translating this to acquisition, which is a totally different workforce, we have to understand that everybody’s opinion and knowledge has a role to play in accomplishing your mission. Your status should never mean that you can’t have a good opinion that should be listened to.”
“As an Army acquisition officer, there is no better feeling than having a capabil- ity that we helped to develop, produce and field make the critical difference on the 21st century battlefield for our joint
warfighters. Nothing beats working with our industry partners and teammates throughout the joint force to put the most technologically advanced tools in the hands of the warfighters to keep our nation safe.”
Ultimately, Taylor said that Army acqui- sition is a team sport and he’s fortunate to be a member. But he also encourages others to look at industry partners as team- mates, too. “Wherever we are in the Army, we are all trying to accomplish the same mission—to keep our nation safe—and our industry partners are trying to accom- plish that same goal.”
From helicopters to budgets, to advanced cyber technology, Taylor sees the value in teamwork and communication. “Even with the most complex and technical proj- ects, this is still a human endeavor.”
—ELLEN SUMMEY
https://asc.ar my.mil
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