Tara Clements
Thirteen individuals and teams within the acquisition community were recognized for their exceptional skill, efficiency, and dedication in their service to Soldiers, the U.S. Army, and the Nation during the 2012 U.S. Army Acquisition Annual Awards ceremony.
The theme for this year’s ceremony, “Recognizing Army Acquisition Excellence,” pays tribute to the uniformed and civilian professionals who design, develop, and deliver capabilities that continually improve force protection and Soldier survivability, enabling Soldiers to execute decisive, full-spectrum operations in support of overseas contingency operations.
“The depth and breadth of the 180 nominations for this year’s 12 awards were truly outstanding, showcasing the best and brightest in the Acquisition, Logistics and Technology community, said Col. Andrew T. Clements, Deputy Director, U.S. Army Acquisition Support Center (USAASC) and Master of Ceremonies.
The Army’s most senior leaders in the acquisition community were in attendance to recognize the award recipients.
“Today we celebrate our very best and acknowledge our superior, dynamic and dedicated professionals. Our central mission is to equip Soldiers so they can execute their mission quickly and successfully and return home safe. That’s our priority. That’s why we’re here today,” said Ms. Heidi Shyu, Assistant Secretary of the Army for Acquisition, Logistics, and Technology.
A record-breaking 180 total nominees competed for 12 awards in the following categories:
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• Army Life Cycle Logistician of the Year, recognizing excellence in the field of Life Cycle Logistics and achievements in improving the Total Life Cycle Systems Management process.
• Acquisition, Logistics and Technology Continuous Performance Improvement, recognizing contributions in the improvement of business processes, application of lean Six Sigma methods and operational and financial achievement in the service of our warfighters.
• Contracting Noncommissioned Officer (NCO) Award for Contracting Excellence, highlighting exceptional leadership and significant achievements as a contracting NCO.
• Director, Acquisition Career Management, recognizing long-lasting contributions to the Army Acquisitions Corps throughout a civilian or military career.
• Acquisition Director, Project Manager and Product Manager of the Year, recognizing expertise to research, develop, test, evaluate, contract, field, and sustain warfighting systems. These three awards highlight professionals who ensure our Soldiers have the materiel needed to fight wherever the battlefield or mission takes them.
• Army Acquisition Excellence Awards, highlighting four Acquisition Workforce individuals or teams reflecting outstanding achievement in support of Soldiers and Army transformation initiatives.
“Overall, this competition reaffirms the talent and dedication of the Acquisition Corps as well as the greater acquisition workforce to meet the needs of our Soldiers around the clock, around the world, 24/7. We never let our Soldiers down,” said Ms. Shyu.
Coming from one Soldier, his previous three deployments have made a significant impact on ensuring Soldiers have what they need to accomplish the mission.
“When you’ve been in their shoes, it’s easier to see where they [Soldiers] are coming from,” said,” Sgt. 1st Class Sears, 414th Contracting Support Brigade and winner of the 2012 ASA(ALT) Contracting Noncommissioned Officer Award for Contracting Excellence.
While deployed to Afghanistan, Sears was responsible for awarding and administering more than $20 million in contracts supporting Regional Command-West (RC-West). In addition, he served as the primary trainer for all contracting courses in RC-West supporting more than 10,000 coalition troops.
“Combat experience has really helped to see the larger picture as a whole. Once you have visibility and support for tens of thousands of Soldiers, it really allows you to see how a little change can make a big difference.”
“This is the highlight of my career to be selected for this honor,” said Sears who attended the ceremony with his mother, Mary Anne.
This year’s award winners include:
2012 Army Life Cycle Logistician of the Year Award
Preston Turner, Director, Logistics Management, Soldier Protection and Individual Equipment, Program Executive Office (PEO) Soldier
2012 ASA(ALT) Contracting Noncommissioned Officer Award for Contracting Excellence
Sgt. 1st Class Eric Sears, 414th Contracting Support Brigade, U.S. Army Expeditionary Contracting Command
2012 Acquisition, Logistics, and Technology Continuous Performance Improvement Award
Retaining High Powered Serviceable T700-GE-700 & T700-GE-701C/D Aircraft Engines Lean Six Sigma Project Team, PEO Aviation
2012 Director, Acquisition Career Management Award
Cheryl Maggio, Deputy Program Manager, Chemical Stockpile Elimination, U.S. Army Chemical Materials Agency
2012 Secretary of the Army Acquisition Director, Project Manager and Product Manager
of the Year Awards
Acquisition Director of the Year at the Lieutenant Colonel Level
Lt. Col. Yee Hang, Commander, Defense Contract Management Agency, Detroit
Product Manager of the Year
Lt. Col. Terrece B. Harris, Product Manager Improvised Explosive Device Defeat/Protect Force, PEO Ammunition
Acquisition Director of the Year at the Colonel Level
Col. Michael Hoskin, Commander, 413th Contracting Support Brigade,
U.S. Army Expeditionary Contracting Command
Project Manager of the Year
Col. Andrew DiMarco, Project Manager, Ground Combat Vehicle, PEO Ground Combat Systems
2012 Army Acquisition Excellence Awards
Individual Sustained Achievement Award
Maj. Jason Good, Defense Contract Management Agency
Equipping and Sustaining Our Soldier’s Systems Award
Soft Armor Team, Product Manager Soldier Protective Equipment, PEO (PEO) Soldier
(Tie)
Team C5ISR (Coalition, Command, Control, Communications, Computers, Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance), PEO Intelligence, Electronic Warfare, and Sensors and PEO Command, Control, and Communications – Tactical
Information Enabled Army Award
Live Training Transformation Team, Project Manager Training Devices, PEO Simulation, Training, and Instrumentation
Transforming the Way We Do Business Award
Project Manager, Chemical Stockpile Elimination, U.S. Army Chemical Materials Agency
A complete list of the winners and nominees can be found at https://asc.army.mil/web/aac-awards-ceremony-2012/nominees-winners/.
- Tara Clements is a USAASC Public Affairs Specialist.
