FORT BELVOIR, Va. (February 1, 2021)—For nearly a year now, the Army’s acquisition enterprise has forged ahead through unprecedented difficulties, delivering and enhancing capabilities in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic—and it has learned some important lessons in the process. “This crisis has given us an opportunity to be our very best, and I am reminded daily of the critical nature of our work and the excellence of our workforce,” said then-Assistant Secretary of the Army for Acquisition, Logistics and Technology (ASA(ALT)), Dr. Bruce D. Jette. “Many of us in ASA(ALT) serve in uniform. Many of us in ASA(ALT) serve in civilian clothes. All of us clearly see service to this nation as a calling, demonstrating it through unwavering accomplishment of our duty despite even personal risk.” The winter issue of Army AL&T magazine delves into the Army’s ongoing response to the pandemic. In this issue:
- The Joint Program Executive Office for Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear Defense aims its expertise at COVID-19. See “WHEN ‘IT’S WHEN.’”
- U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command shifts resources to keep Soldiers safe and help eliminate spread of coronavirus. Read about how in “QUICK PIVOT.”
- U.S. Army Medical Research and Development Command tackles coronavirus treatment with tools designed for flexibility and speed. Don’t miss “COMPLEX MISSION, CLEAR RESULTS.”
- U.S. Army Medical Materiel Development Activity’s Warfighter Deployed Medical Systems Project Management Office takes action to help those afflicted with COVID-19. See “SUPPLYING VENTILATORS DURING A CRITICAL TIME.”
- Medical devices get COVID-19 patients home sooner. Learn more in “VIRTUAL WARD.”
- This comprehensive team helps hundreds of COVID-19 patients. Read “MAGNIFICENT SEVEN.”
- C5ISR COVID-19 Response Equipping Team keeps the Army’s units connected. “A NETWORK, STAT!”
Also, remember that Army AL&T is built on contributions from you, the Army Acquisition Workforce and our stakeholders. For more information on how to publish an article in Army AL&T magazine, go to https://asc.army.mil/web/publications/army-alt-submissions/ to see our writers guidelines, upcoming deadlines and themes.
Winter 2021 Army AL&T
FROM THE AAE
ACHIEVEMENTS IN MODERNIZATION
COVID-19 has taught us that Army acquisition delivers even in tough times.
PANDEMIC RESPONSE
WHEN ‘IT’S WHEN’
The Joint Program Executive Office for Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear Defense aims its capabilities, medical countermeasures, expertise and acquisition acumen at COVID-19.
QUICK PIVOT
U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command shifts resources to keep Soldiers safe and help eliminate spread of coronavirus.
COMPLEX MISSION, CLEAR RESULTS
U.S. Army Medical Research and Development Command tackles coronavirus treatment with tools designed for flexibility and speed.
SUPPLYING VENTILATORS DURING A CRITICAL TIME
U.S. Army Medical Materiel Development Activity’s Warfighter Deployed Medical Systems Project Management Office takes action to help those afflicted with COVID-19.
INNOVATION AT MACH 5
To quicken the delivery of hypersonic capabilities, the Army had to create the industrial base for the technology. Then came COVID-19.
VIRTUAL WARD
Medical devices, MEDHUB enable a hospital to send COVID-19 patients home sooner.
IMPROVING THE FIGHT
There may never be a silver bullet for defeating COVID-19—instead, it may require defense in depth, including three possible weapons from USAMMDA.
FACES OF THE FORCE: MUMBI THANDE-KAMIRU
Practical Life Lessons
MAGNIFICENT SEVEN
A team of seven helps hundreds of patients receive COVID-19 treatment.
TESTING PUT TO THE TEST
The COVID-19 pandemic forced U.S. Army Operational Test Command to innovate during a new system’s operational test.
AMC DRIVES ON
Protecting our people and supplying the warfighter in crisis: Army Materiel Command keeps its focus on the mission.
UNEXPECTED, BUT NOT UNREADY
JMC produces masks and sanitizer in battle against COVID-19.
RESEARCH ABROAD IN THE TIME OF COVID
A U.S. Army scientist’s plans for her exchange program assignment in the Czech Republic get upended by the pandemic.
FACES OF THE FORCE: ROBIN L. MILLER
Leadership through Inspiration
CREATING SUCCESS OUT OF NECESSITY
USAMRDC’s Additive Manufacturing Working Group streamlines the process for additive manufacturers interested in producing PPE and other devices.
A NETWORK, STAT!
C5ISR COVID-19 Response Equipping Team keeps Army’s units connected.
PANDEMIC-READY
How the Program Executive Office for Soldier has kept its Integrated Visual Augmentation System on track as COVID-19 crisis alters plans and procedures.
FEATURE ARTICLES
A MAP TO MIGRATION
U.S. Army Acquisition Support Center charts a course to cloud migration amid shifting regulations, provides lessons learned.
FACES OF THE FORCE: NICHOLAS T. KALINOWSKI
The Nuts and Bolts of Acquisition
REACHING OUT
AEOP builds the STEM citizenry of tomorrow, one student at a time.
ON CONTRACTING: THE FALLACY OF COMPROMISE
What to do when national security collides with full and open competition for federal contracts.
CRITICAL THINKING
THE VIEW FROM ABOVE
The life of an Army astronaut: Exploring the cosmos from the International Space Station, accepting leadership, learning teamwork.
COMMENTARY
SOFT SKILLS TO BATTLE A TOUGH ENEMY
The COVID-19 pandemic has forced the Army and nation to fast-forward to innovation, but will the remarkable changes last?
BEEN THERE, DONE THAT: WHO IS THE CUSTOMER?
For non-acquisition professionals, it’s unfathomable that acquisition professionals find this difficult to answer.
FIVE STEPS TO SERENITY
How Army sustainment can lead the integration of artificial intelligence for the Army and DOD.
CULTURE CHANGE: MEASURING ARMY CONTRACTING
The push to seek output-driven metrics by which to evaluate the Army’s contracting workforce will not end. It’s time to think hard about what these measurements tell us.
WORKFORCE
FROM THE DACM: SEISMIC CHANGES
Back-to-Basics puts defense acquisition workforce in a whole new world.
CAREER NAVIGATOR: LEAD-ING CHANGE
The new LEAD program is dedicated to training future program managers.
FACES OF THE FORCE: ANISAH ZEGHIR
The Acquisition Adventure
SIX PLUS TWO EQUALS STEM
Developing uniformed strategic technologists: An opportunity in acquisition.
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Read the full article in the Winter 2021 issue of Army AL&T magazine.
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