UNDERSTANDING ARMY ACQUISITION
opportunity it presented to increase my soft skills in networking, diplomacy and cultural relations.”
Te assignment “was even more reward- ing than I could have imagined,” she said.
“Involvement with career-broadening meet- ings and working with ITC members provided me with new perspectives.” She also gained a better understanding of the international collaboration tools, includ- ing foreign technology assessment support (FTAS)
funding, basic and applied
research grants and Coalition Warfare Program projects. FTAS is an Army program that awards funding, usually for a year, to conduct technology assessments, basic research studies and test and evalua- tion efforts on unique foreign technologies. Te Coalition Warfare Program, governed by the undersecretary of defense for acqui- sition and sustainment, provides funding to DOD organizations to conduct coop- erative research, development, testing and engineering programs with foreign part- ners. Funding is focused on projects that increase coalition capabilities in support of operational, technological or political objectives.
“I am now able to confidently discuss these funding opportunities to facilitate research projects with foreign partners, and I’ll pass along information to CCDC-SC project officers to ensure they are aware of the benefits of collaborating internationally,” Flock said.
She noted that the assignment also exposed her to “strategic thinking and the effort to broaden U.S. research relationships with numerous countries. I hadn’t had a lot of exposure to that kind of big-picture thinking before.” It also “reinvigorated my curiosity and interest in looking for tech- nological solutions from nature. Meeting creative scientists conducting research in synthetic biology and invertebrate vision
reminded me to think outside the box in my own research objectives and under- scored the importance of interdisciplinary collaborations.”
Her work wasn’t limited to biology, she noted. It provided the opportunity “to work alongside excellent mentors,” includ- ing Lt. Col. Marc Meeker, ITC director; Mark Cumo, ITC technical director; and Tony Lee, a research engineer at ITC who is part of the CCDC Ground Vehi- cle Systems Center.
“I had never worked with vehicle systems before, and in working with Tony, I learned a great deal—how threats to the system are always changing, for example, how the vehicle is designed to keep up with those threats, and exploring whether international partners might have already developed solutions for some of those challenges,” she said. “In CCDC-SC, our focus is on the modernization priority of Soldier lethality, and it was great to work on issues in other priority areas.”
Now back in the States, she has stayed in touch with the ITC members about possi- ble collaborations with CCDC-SC. “I am happy to continue to help find the right connections within the Soldier Center to ensure new technologies are being passed along to the most applicable subject matter expert within the Army research labs,” she said. “Also, I’ve been looking at the way we do things with a different perspective and trying to identify places where I can incorporate the approaches I saw at ITC in the work we do here.”
Flock recommends the assignment to scientists or engineers in an earlier stage in their career who want to broaden their understanding of the Army mission and receive training in diplomacy, leadership and international engagements. “Anyone with an interest in seeing a different side
of grants and data exchange agreements would benefit from this experience,” she said. “It is always worth applying to an opportunity that places you outside your comfort zone in order to facilitate learn- ing and career growth.”
And for those just starting on an ITC assignment, Flock had this advice: “Don’t be afraid to ask a lot of questions. Te ITC staff are knowledgeable and really help- ful—and if they don’t know the answer to a question, they can put you in touch with someone who does. And don’t be afraid to get involved in areas outside of your exper- tise,” she added. “Te best way to learn is by doing, and this program is a great opportunity for that.”
Flock joined the Army Acquisition Work- force in 2016 after completing her master’s degree. “At the start of the position, I was introduced to acquisition terminology and was encouraged to learn about tech- nology transition and where research and development fits into this process. I am encouraged to be creative and collaborate with innovative researchers from academia to accomplish goals more effectively.”
Even in her relatively short tenure in the Army Acquisition Workforce, she has noticed changes taking place. “Proj- ect timelines are becoming shorter,” she said. “We used to see a lot of four-year projects, but now they’re three years or fewer. Fortunately, programs like ITC and the contacts I’ve made through my assignment can contribute to overcom- ing that challenge. I’ve learned about the value of collaborating with industry and academia, both domestically and interna- tionally, which provides more tools and options for getting projects completed on shorter deadlines.”
— SUSAN L. FOLLETT
https://asc.ar my.mil
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