TITLE: Military test plans analyst
COMMAND/ORGANIZATION: U.S. Army Operational Test Command
ACQUISITION FUNCTIONAL AREA: Test and Evaluation
YEARS OF SERVICE IN WORKFORCE: 10
YEARS OF MILITARY SERVICE: 7
DAWIA CERTIFICATIONS: Practitioner in test and evaluation
EDUCATION: Master of Information Systems, graduate certificate in business analytics and B.S. in information technology, University of Pheonix; A.S. in computer science, Central Texas College
AWARDS: Ten Year Civilian Service Award (2023); Civilian Service Commendation Award (2022); Medical Center of Excellence Hero of the Battlefield recipient (2021); Medical Test Evaluation Activity Civilian of the Year (2021); Southwest Asia Gulf War Veteran service Medal (1991)

Archie C. Kinnebrew Jr.

by Cheryl Marino

As Archie Kinnebrew became more involved in Army modernization and the purchase of Army systems, he realized that while technology may help us make better decisions, it also “handicaps us in the knowledge transfer of experience.” As the military test plans analyst for U.S. Army Operational Test Command, he embraces new technology, but he doesn’t want to lose sight of what happens when things are missed.

“We should not have to learn by accident,” he said. “[The whole of] My experience is crafted from mistakes and poor processes of the past. I have to instill in my peers and young leaders these lessons and pitfalls so they can be successful.”

In his role, Kinnebrew develops detailed test plans that include resources, event design and cost accounting strategies to support Army resource development strategies for defense acquisition projects and programs, thereby ensuring that each piece of equipment is operationally tested before being placed in the hands of warfighters.

Throughout his career as a test officer, Kinnebrew has supported a range of organizations across the testing community, including the U.S. Army Medical Test and Evaluation Activity; the U.S. Army Operational Test Command; the U.S. Army Communications and Electronics Command; the U.S. Navy Space and Naval Warfare System Center (now the Naval Information Warfare Systems Command); joint services, NATO operations; the Federal Aviation Agency; and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.
It’s a diverse set of experience with, he said, a significant commonality—giving back to the young warfighter and ensuring they have the latest and greatest to do their job right and to come back home safely.

“It’s important to me to ensure my current position is accomplished to the highest standard and my work accomplishments are worthy of supporting the young warfighter in the battlefield, at home and abroad,” Kinnebrew said.

Kinnebrew worked on missile systems for the Bradley Fighting Vehicle while he was a sergeant in the Army, as a land combat missile electronic technician. Two years after he medically separated from the Army in 1996, he landed a testing position at Operational Test Command at Fort Hood, Texas, and the first test was on the Bradley Fighting Vehicle. “I feel deeply immersed in the testing of all sorts of military systems, and this morphed into becoming heavily involved with the acquisition process,” he said. Never having known what went into the development, testing and purchase of Army vehicles and weapons until getting involved in test and evaluation really “opened his eyes.”

Training, which Kinnebrew sought voluntarily while trying to find ways to enhance his career, was a large part of the process. The most recent courses he took were the Defense Civilian Emerging Leader Program (DCELP) in May 2024 and the Civilian Education System (CES) Intermediate Course in June 2022.

“My greatest takeaway [from DCELP] was how to become influential to others—how to be vulnerable with my teammates as a strength.” Completing CES was instrumental in “learning self-awareness as a leader, both shortcomings and strengths,” he added.

Kinnebrew believes that showing your human side helps create trust and understanding. “I am a people first, performance second and process third type of leader. Creating trust and rapport with your peers and leadership is important. Showing vulnerability helps.”

Kinnebrew said that he applied for DCELP and CES to increase his value, increase his awareness and learn the latest concepts.

“I was hoping to find additional blind spots in my leadership style, meet new people and share my experiences and produce a plan for my knowledge transfer to others,” he said. “The program helped me develop these plans.”

Kinnebrew’s knowledge transfer plan would include peer-to-peer mentorship with a discussion board or round-table discussion to allow lessons learned to be incorporated into current planning, tasks and assignments. He believes a structured, peer-to-peer activity would give everyone an equal voice and a welcome platform for discussion. He’d like to see this plan executed before his retirement.

Above all, for Kinnebrew “it was about the ‘gives’ and ‘gets.’ I was able to give my experiences and insight, and I got others’ perspectives and learnings,” he said. He gained new personal perspective and learned the importance of being inspirational and creative when influencing a new network of professionals. “It has shown me that there is more that I have to offer to my peers and leaders. It has inspired me to push my peers to the levels they are capable of.”

“These courses are a must-have for my teammates. We do not know what we do not know if we are not exposed to the unknown,” he said. “Knowledge of self and the tools to develop are crucial for personal and professional development and the sharing of knowledge, how to be vulnerable, and the value of being a sincere leader.”

Kinnebrew’s work is his passion. “You have to love what you do in order to accomplish a task; you have to look at it like a work of art. You fill your canvas, pour your heart into it and ensure there are no flaws,” he said. “If you do not totally love what you do, then you cannot possibly do your best work.”

When you love what you do, it shows. Kinnebrew’s enthusiasm for his role is obvious to those within and outside DOD. “When I tell people about military systems they have seen on the news or in the movies, the typical response is ‘Wow!’, because they can’t believe the high probability of my having a hand in the development, testing and fielding of the various warfighting vehicles, munitions, software and tools,” he said.

In the past four years, he said he has often found himself to be the most experienced member of his team when it comes to test and evaluation. “I have not only provided support and teamanship, but also became a mentor and coach to junior professionals,” Kinnebrew said. “I have also become a confidant and advisor to senior leadership across several testing organizations.”

Both in and outside of work, Kinnebrew is known for being highly motivated, in a constant state of learning and extremely competitive. “These are the basics for how I do business in my organization,” he said. “To ensure that I give 100 percent, all of these attributes are a must.”