UNIT: Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Acquisition, Logistics and Technology (ASA(ALT))
TITLE: Director, Plans, Programs, and Resources, ASA(ALT)
AAC MEMBER SINCE: 2003
TOTAL YEARS OF ARMY SERVICE: 28
AWARDS: Legion of Merit, the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, the Army Meritorious Service Medal, the Army Commendation Medal, and the Army Achievement Medal
EDUCATION: M.A. in computer resources and information management, Webster University; M.S. in national resource strategy, Industrial College of the Army Forces; B.A. in political science, University of Illinois
Col. Charles Wells assesses the tactical glasses being demonstrated at Enterprise Challenge 13 at Fort Huachuca. (Photo by: Sgt. 1st Class Kristine Smedley)
What do you do and why is it important to the warfighter?
As the director for plans, programs, and resources in ASA(AL&T), I am responsible for the planning, budgeting, and resource obligation of all Army programs across the Program Objective Memorandum (POM). That represents $244 billion and 27 percent of the Army’s total obligation authority. I am also responsible for leading the development of the Army’s future research, development, and acquisition strategy for input into the Army POM and presentation by the Army and DOD leadership to Congress. In the current fiscal environment, these activities are absolutely critical to ensure we get maximum value from every Army dollar to support our Soldiers, while also shaping Army future investments to successfully meet near-term and evolving threats.
What are some of the milestones you’ve achieved?
As a major, I was the first project officer for Army Knowledge Online (AKO), achieving AKO’s initial operational capability in 1999; I was recognized with a Federal 100 award for that project. On the Joint Staff, I helped write and implement the “IT box” requirements model, which allows software-intensive programs to effectively develop and deliver incremental capabilities to meet evolving requirements. As project manager for the Distributed Common Ground System-Army (DCGS-A), I was the first in the Army to implement the IT box model for a major automated information system (MAIS), successfully achieving two DOD-level Milestones (Milestone C and full deployment decision) as an Acquisition Category I project.
What is your greatest satisfaction in being part of the Army Acquisition Corps?
My greatest satisfaction is in meeting Soldiers, talking to them about their requirements, and working to deliver systems that make a difference in their lives and missions. I am humbled and gratified when Soldiers tell me how Army acquisition systems have helped them, and I’m tremendously proud to be a part of that process. It is why I joined the Army Acquisition Corps and why I am honored to serve.
Col. Wells discusses potential technology insertion opportunities with industry representatives at Innovation Showcase (2013) held at Aberdeen Proving Ground.
In celebration of the silver anniversary of the Army Acquisition Corps (AAC), Access is publishing “25 for 25” — twenty-five profiles of members of the AAC across the Army Acquisition Workforce. These profiles provide unique insight into the variety and importance of the work done by the AAC every day.
