WORKFORCE
points. For example, she knew that she wasn’t the strongest writer, so she enrolled in several courses in anticipation of ALAP’s timed writing test. All of this helped improve her performance at ALAP.
ALAP, she said, was particularly challenging but also gave her new insight into her leadership style. In meeting with an onsite psychologist, she was asked about everything from her recent reading list to her career aspirations to how she might respond to various scenarios. And during the panel interview, Morgan was asked simple, but probing, behavioral-based questions and prompts based on her experiences. She said the entire process is designed to force acquisition leaders out of their comfort zone and help them recognize how they think, how they respond under pressure and how they interact with others, including their peers.
“Te whole process is tremendously effective because they’re trying to ensure your success in whatever position you’re placed,” she said.
Morgan was ultimately chosen for a CSL assignment as the product manager of the Army Contract Writing System under the Program Executive Office (PEO) for Enterprise, formerly known as PEO for Enterprise Information Systems. In this role, she supervises 48 people and a contractor in integrating three Army contracting systems—the Standard Procurement System, Procurement Desktop-Defense and Procurement Automated Data and Document System—into a single modernized system, while also managing its budget, schedule and performance.
GET READY AND GO FOR IT So how can a talented and ambitious acquisition professional improve his or her chances of getting a CSL job?
Morgan said preparation is the key. Even before they apply, candi- dates should take time to familiarize themselves with CSL and ALAP, along with their structures, objectives and evaluation criteria and then proactively undertake a self-assessment to find and fix “the holes in your swing,” she said.
“Reflect on your leadership style, strengths and areas for improve- ment,” she explained. “Be honest with yourself about your capabilities and how they align with the expectations of senior leaders. Engage with peers, mentors and superiors to gain insight into your leadership skills. Constructive feedback can help you identify gaps and work on them before the assessment.”
Roper said that even as candidates ensure that they have the requisite knowledge and technical skills for a CSL assignment,
https://
asc.ar my.mil 81
they should simultaneously work on assessing and then improv- ing their soft skills.
“Don’t apply just because you are a smart engineer or because you have a lot of radar experience or missile experience,” he said. “It will help, but that alone will not make you a good candidate. If you want to go this route, make sure you are strengthening your people management skills, your interviewing skills and those areas that are outside of your comfort area, like budgeting, logis- tics, contracting and other program management areas.”
Polite agreed and highly encourages talented and ambitious acquisition professionals to take a chance and apply.
“CSL is really an opportunity for an individual to step outside their comfort zone, whether it be geographically or in an orga- nization they’re unfamiliar with, and they can learn new skills and truly lead while developing themselves professionally,” he said. “So I tell people to really consider trying because once you have that CSL assignment, the CSL designation travels with you and it’s a great resume builder that is very high visibility. It really means something—and if you do a great job, you’re going to be highly sought after once your assignment is completed.”
For more information on the CSL application process, go to https://
asc.army.mil/web/centralized-selection-list.
HEATHER B. HAYES provides contract support to the U.S. Army Acquisition Support Center as a contributing writer and editor for Army AL&T magazine and JANSON. She holds a B.A. in journalism from the University of Kentucky and has more than 30 years of experience writing and editing feature articles and books.
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