ARMY AL&T
“My greatest satisfaction comes from finding solutions to complex challenges.”
come out of industry and non-profit orga- nizations, and a munitions management information analyst position was the only opening that was available. To me, it was more than ‘by chance,’ ” he said. “Look- ing back it was more than a lucky win for me to land and excel in the job.”
In that role, he monitored and reported on the ammunition industrial base. “What interested me about this position was the fact that I could use project management and soft skills to make a significant contri- bution to the mission of the warfighter. My responsibilities have shifted since that time. However, I continue to leverage these skills as I lead efforts with diverse partici- pants coming from engineering, business, production and logistics backgrounds, and it is this aspect of team building which really appeals to me.”
More than anything, he values the mentoring and coaching he has received from Army acquisition professionals. “Tey have taught me so much—not only how to wade through the tasks at hand, but more importantly, how to think stra- tegically, communicate effectively and to always conduct myself in an ethical manner while striving for excellence.” It’s one thing to know policy or standard operating procedures, but quite another to observe how a professional navigates diffi- cult conversations or lays out a road map to solve complex acquisition challenges. “I have had the privilege of working with those who have 20 to 30 years of posi- tive experience in Army acquisition, who can flesh out what it means to wisely apply what they learned in a DAU [Defense
Acquisition University] class or in a previ- ous letter of request from another foreign partner,” he said.
For the past two years, Shaeffer has focused on classes
that sharpen and
develop leadership and communication skills. “Tis has been very helpful to me to take a step back and look at where I am as a leader and communicator,” he said. “I have found areas in which I needed to grow and these Army-sponsored classes lend themselves well to analyzing myself and then the immediate implementation of what I have learned in class. I would highly recommend maintaining a good balance between technical training as well as class work that hones soft skills.”
The right combination of experience, education and mentoring have helped him throughout his career, and he now provides advice to junior acquisition personnel while “walking alongside them” every step of the way. “I do not always have to be the talking head for my organization, nor the one who works all the challenging tasks. As a coach, I can train and equip, and then act as an affirmative supporter,” he said. “For me, this is just as rewarding as achieving the goals myself.”
Tere’s a genuine team atmosphere within Program Manager Close Combat System’s International Division that allows for shared responsibility and recognition for accomplishments. “In this atmosphere, we see new employees experiencing large leaps in skill development and loving the orga- nization of which they are members,” he said. “Te advice I would give to junior
acquisition personnel is to be confident in your achievements, and begin early to position yourself as a coach and mentor. Your organization will benefit from you multiplying yourself across the force in this way.”
He believes there is a common link between his personal life and work as an Army acquisition professional when it comes to striving for justice and provid- ing opportunities for those around him.
“I hold deep convictions with regard to Biblical faith and family,” he said. Tese values apply both in and outside of work. Shaeffer has pastored churches in New Jersey and Pennsylvania, and said he has transferred the grace he has received to his family—he and his wife have 14 children, three of whom were adopted internation- ally, and four grandchildren. “It seems that much of what I do takes on an inter- national flavor,” he said. “Whether it is helping kids from hard places or posi- tioning the U.S. Army to assist a partner nation with a serious national security threat, I am fully engaged in doing what I can.”
“Regardless of what ‘reality’ truly is, my Biblical convictions provide a resilience far beyond what I can muster on my own, and the moral and ethical guidance to always do what is right and excellent,” he said. “And this in combination with solid analy- sis is what I attempt to bring to bear to my work as an Army acquisition professional.”
— CHERYL MARINO
https://asc.ar my.mil
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