POSITION AND UNIT: Product lead, Defense-Wide Transmission Systems, Program Executive Office for Enterprise Information Systems
YEARS OF SERVICE IN WORKFORCE: 8
DAWIA CERTIFICATIONS: Level III in program management
EDUCATION: Ed. D. in organizational leadership, Argosy University; M.A.in computer resource and information management, Webster University; B.A.in business management, St. John’s University
AWARDS: Meritorious Service Medal (3 Oak Leaf Clusters (OLC)), Army Commendation Medal (3OLC), Joint Service Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal (3 OLC), Armed Forces Reserve Medal with M Device, Army Reserve Component Achievement Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Humanitarian Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, NATO Medal, Army Service Ribbon and Army Reserve Component Overseas Training Ribbon
Acquisition officer’s ABCs of HPTs
By Tara Clements
In a time when developing leaders and high-performance teams (HPTs) is a focus area for the Army acquisition community and the Army as a whole, Lt. Col. Jeff Etienne brings a unique perspective to his position, one that’s rooted in education and a lifetime of experiences. Where many seek guidance and input from the top, Etienne looks to the bottom.
“I believe in the bottom-up approach; the Army is by nature top-down. The best ideas come from the person closest to the system and the customer,” said Etienne, who oversees the largest tactical wireless network in DOD. And to manage the diverse stakeholders, requirements and budget challenges, Etienne finds that success is based in a five-letter word: trust.
“Overcoming these challenges requires trusting your team, managing through deliberate delegation,” he said. “Success relies upon putting the right folks in the right place at the right time and then continuing to manage the balance of that diverse environment.”
With more than 40 percent holding advanced academic degrees, the Army Acquisition Workforce is an elite group of professionals, and Etienne is no exception. More than 26 years ago, this Army acquisition officer started his career as an ROTC cadet. Having recently completed his doctorate in organizational leadership, Etienne blends a lifetime of service with education that informs his own participative leadership style to build HPTs.
“Overall, I always remind myself that I’m not the smartest person in the room; that’s why I have a team of brilliant people,” he said. “Active listening to be better prepared to make decisions makes all the difference in the quality of the decisions you make.”
What do you do in the Army?
As the product lead for Defense-Wide Transmission Systems, I carry the dual missions of providing transport capabilities to logisticians and critical infrastructure capabilities to the warfighter worldwide. Think of me as an AT&T or Verizon carrier. I provide long-haul communications worldwide: a satellite communications network that allows Soldiers to have access to the Non-classified Internet Protocol Router Network (NIPRNet) anywhere in the world, the same as they would from a desktop computer at an office. It’s all about enabling information dominance for our Soldiers through best-value solutions.
What’s been some of your biggest challenges and successes during your tenure?
Seeing the Combat Service Support (CSS) Automated Information Systems Interface, the largest tactical wireless network in DOD, reach full operational capability, into sustainment. Global Combat Support Systems – Army chose the CSS Very Small Aperture Terminal as the premier choice of transport for their applications, encompassing 3,620 active terminals that transport logistics data for maintenance, repairs and resupply to forward-deployed units. These terminals connect logisticians to their mission-critical networks.
Challenges include managing such a diverse portfolio with so many balls in the air. I manage requirements of two substantially different major stakeholders: G-4 and CIO-G-6. One supports logisticians; the other, information technology [IT]. How do you manage the adaptive, asynchronous requirements of both? By balancing the priorities of both and handling funding from both.
Lt. Col. Jeff Etienne, Product Lead, Defense-Wide Transmission Systems (PL DWTS), addresses participants in the CSS VSAT logistics demonstration July 1, 2015 at Fort Belvoir, Va. Photos by James Christophersen, PM DCATS.
Given your experience in the Army, what do you hope to change in the organizations to which you belong, or make a difference?
I believe in getting teams to be high-performance. [I] give them my intent, and then get out of the way and let them do their job. Let them be creative and innovative and let them come up with solutions. Former Secretary of State Colin Powell said, “If you’re a constant ‘yes,’ one of you is redundant.” So I also believe in participative leadership, and sometimes that means disagreeing on a solution. That conversation and debate helps you gain buy-in, with the goal being that the vision should carry on after you leave. Leadership can be situational, so sometimes you may have to switch to [being] authoritative. But it’s far better that a team takes ownership of the mission to buy into it, and moves to the same tune.
What has your experience been like? What has surprised you the most?
It’s great working with military, contractors and civilians in a team environment with the common goal to always keep the focus on the Soldier and lessening the Soldier’s burden. In that, I have been most surprised with how good teamwork, communication and building relationships comes together into a high-performance team. With big teams and small teams, communicating well and building relationships makes a positive difference in supporting the customer and working with stakeholders.
Why did you join the Army? What is your greatest satisfaction in being part of the Army?
I joined the Army to make a difference. I’ve always enjoyed helping people and believe strongly in our individual duty to society and to the government—to give something back through national service. One of my favorite past jobs is humanitarian missions, specifically my time spent in El Salvador rebuilding houses, schools and roads following the 2001 earthquake. When people see “Army,” they usually think of bullets and killing, but the U.S. Army is so much more than that. We contribute to our society through service, crisis response and rebuilding nations and communities.
Describe your deployment experience. What stands out to you the most?
My deployment to Afghanistan as a contracting officer stands out. It was my first time in that capacity, but I really enjoyed it, and that experience prepared me to become a product lead (PL). I had deployed previously working in IT, but that was my first time as a contracting officer. It helped because a large portion of the PL’s job is to understand contracts. I enjoy being able to provide the right contract, the right solution, to meet the requirements of the customer. I like to field systems that make Soldiers’ lives easier for years after us—that’s why I love acquisitions and why I take what we do so seriously.
From left to right: Lt. Col. Jeff Etienne, the Product Lead, Defense-Wide Transmission Systems (PL DWTS); Col. Charlie Stein, the Project Manager, Defense Communications and Army Transmission Systems (PM DCATS); and Maj. Jonathan Judy, the Assistant Product Manager, PL DWTS, conducted a CSS VSAT system’s logistics demonstration (Log Demo) from June 22 to July 2, 2015 at Fort Belvoir, Va. Completing the Log Demo and validating the technical manual were two significant hurdles for the CSS VSAT’s transition from contractor logistics support to organic support, undertaken during Etienne’s command.
“Faces of the Force” is an online series highlighting members of the Army Acquisition Workforce through the power of individual stories. Profiles are produced by the U.S. Army Acquisition Support Center Communication and Support Branch, working closely with public affairs officers to feature Soldiers and civilians serving in a variety of AL&T disciplines. For more information, or to nominate someone, please contact 703-805-1006.
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