FY18 product, project director slating results announced

FY18 product, project director slating results announced

By Norm Hilton FORT BELVOIR, Va. (Feb. 14, 2018)—The Talent Management Board of Directors convened Jan. 25 to slate 13 new product and project directors. Jeffrey A. White, principal deputy assistant secretary of the Army for acquisition, logistics and technology (ASA(ALT)), presided over the board, which included Craig Spisak, the Army director for acquisition career management (DACM), and program executive officers (PEOs) and deputy PEOs from 12 program offices. The board approved eight product director positions and five project director positions, all of which are scheduled to be filled this summer. The standard tenure for these posts is three years. The Army DACM Office, in coordination with the PEOs, will […]

First, Manage Yourself

First, Manage Yourself

In 30 years of studying and teaching leadership, Harvard Business School Professor Linda A. Hill has seen the numerous ways that understanding oneself and the organization well makes for better managers and leaders who can build thriving teams by Ms. Margaret C. Roth If it seems to you that managing or leading in government and managing or leading in business have nothing in common, Dr. Linda A. Hill has a story or five to tell you. Hill has made it her life’s work to study, from a global perspective, what makes a good manager a good leader, and vice versa. What she has learned and teaches as the Harvard Business […]

Maintaining A World-Class Workforce

Maintaining A World-Class Workforce

AAW’s importance to the mission makes professional development all the more vital From The Army Acquisition Executive Ms. Steffanie B. Easter As the Army builds a more agile and adaptive force for the future, we must continue to provide our Soldiers a decisive advantage by maintaining high-quality acquisition professionals to develop, acquire, field and sustain the world’s best equipment and services. Comprising over 38,000 professionals, both military and civilian, our Army acquisition community is responsible for outfitting Soldiers around the globe for any and all possible situations and conflicts they may encounter. Additionally, we must accomplish this against the backdrop of an increasingly complex environment, which requires us to be […]

New issue of Army AL&T magazine focuses on the Army Acquisition Workforce

New issue of Army AL&T magazine focuses on the Army Acquisition Workforce

By Michael Bold FORT BELVOIR, Va. (July 3, 2017)—The Army Acquisition Workforce is charged with equipping Soldiers to fight and win America’s battles. And it’s that workforce that stands front and center of the July – September issue of Army AL&T magazine. From developing capabilities for Soldiers in the field to nurturing and inspiring future Army scientists and engineers in the classroom, we’ve got it covered. Read about: Network Integration Evaluations and Joint Warfighting Assessments are evolving, and as they do the Army’s ‘trail bosses’ seize the chance to grow professionally as their roles expand in planning and executing the large-scale exercises. Find out how in “CENTER OF THE STORM.” […]

Annual ASA(ALT) acquisition writing competition showcases workforce talent; creativity

Annual ASA(ALT) acquisition writing competition showcases workforce talent; creativity

By Karen D. Kurtz WASHINGTON (June 26, 2017) – The Principal Military Deputy to the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Acquisition, Logistics and Technology (ASA(ALT)), Maj. Gen. Paul A. Ostrowski, announced the fourth annual Maj. Gen. Harold J. “Harry” Greene Awards for Acquisition Writing competition today to encourage critical writing focused on Army acquisition. “The annual writing competition is designed to showcase the tremendous talent and creativity within the acquisition community and those associated with it,” said Ostrowski. “Each year, we invite participants to candidly share their ideas, expertise, and experiences by writing about them,” he continued. “In doing so, we honor a leader who was passionate about our […]

Hot Topics 2.0

Hot Topics 2.0

Army DACM Office introduces Hot Topics 2.0 By Tara Clements and Marti Giella FORT BELVOIR, Va. (Oct. 6, 2015) – Hot Topics is back, providing a monthly breakdown of current news, important dates and updates affecting the Army Acquisition Workforce (AAW). Developed by the Office of the Director for Acquisition Career Management (DACM), Hot Topics 2.0 is designed to provide the AAW an overview of what’s new related to acquisition careers, current training opportunities and changes, as well as a look at new opportunities on the horizon. “We understand how challenging it is to stay on track with all of the opening and closing dates for career opportunities—especially given our […]

Faces of the Force: Laurie Hull

Faces of the Force: Laurie Hull

POSITION AND UNIT: Chief, Regional Contracting Office – Wiesbaden; 409th Contracting Support Brigade (CSB) – Europe TOTAL YEARS OF SERVICE: 5 AWARDS: 409th CSB Commander’s Award, Navy Meritorious Civilian Service Award EDUCATION: MBA from Chaminade University of Honolulu; B.S. in business and management from the University of Maryland Contracting expert hopes to become a long-term expat By Susan L. Follett Don’t look for Laurie Hull stateside anytime soon. During overseas postings to Okinawa, Japan and Portugal’s Azores while her husband served in the Air Force, Hull acquired a love for living internationally, and she’s been able to leverage her expertise in defense contracting to satisfy her travel bug. After living overseas for […]

Faces of the Force: Howard Rosbury

Faces of the Force: Howard Rosbury

POSITION: Systems Acquisition Manager for Mobile Strike Force Vehicle UNIT: Product Manager Allied Tactical Vehicles (PdM ATV), Project Manager Transportation Systems, Program Executive Office Combat Support & Combat Service Support (PEO CS&CSS) TOTAL YEARS OF SERVICE: 9 AWARDS: Achievement Medal for Civilian Service EDUCATION: M.S., engineering management, University of Michigan – Dearborn; B.S., mechanical engineering, GMI Engineering and Management Institute (now Kettering University) Childhood fascination leads to grown-up career By Susan L. Follett Howard Rosbury, systems acquisition manager (SAM) for PEO CS&CSS, has an issue we’re all familiar with: too much to do and not enough time. Faced with the current climate of shrinking budgets and hiring freezes, he and […]

Faces of the Force: Lisa Benjamin

Faces of the Force: Lisa Benjamin

POSITION: Contracting Officer UNIT: 918th Contracting Battalion, Mission and Installation Contracting Command–Fort Carson TOTAL YEARS OF SERVICE: 32 (21 active duty and 11 civilian) AWARDS: Achievement Medal for Civilian Service; Meritorious Service Medal; Army Commendation (6) EDUCATION: MBA, Regis University, B.S. in business management/business administration, Colorado State University Contracting role requires flexibility, capacity to manage change By Susan L. Follett Lisa Benjamin isn’t big on down time. Two weeks after she graduated from high school in 1982, she headed for Army basic training. She spent 21 years on active duty, and six months later she began working for the Army as a civilian—work she’s done for more than a decade. […]

Army acquisition product directors selected in first-ever board

Army acquisition product directors selected in first-ever board

By Tara Clements and Jack Kendall FORT BELVOIR, Va. (Feb. 26, 2015)—Fourteen candidates from the Army Acquisition Corps were selected from the first-ever product director centralized selection board held Dec. 4-5, 2014, at Fort Knox, Kentucky. A talent management board of directors met Feb. 6 to approve the positions for the newly-selected product directors. Lt. Gen. Michael E. Williamson, Army director, Acquisition Career Management (DACM), presided over the board consisting of Mr. Craig A. Spisak, deputy Army DACM and the 12 program executive officers. The board approved 10 product director positions to be filled this summer. The civilian-only centrally selected product director board is one of Williamson’s first major talent […]