Position and Unit: U.S. Army Acquisition Support Center Training with Industry Officer at Lockheed Martin
DAWIA Certifications: Level III in program management
Total Years of Service: 19
Education: Master’s degree in aeronautical science and safety, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University; Master’s degree in management, Florida Institute of Technology; B.S. in history, Tuskegee University
Awards: Bronze Star Medal, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medals (3), Joint Service Achievement Medal, Army Commendation Medals (2), Army Achievement Medal, National Defense Service Medals (2), Korean Defense Service Medal, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, Iraq Campaign Medals (3), Global War On Terrorism Service Medal, Army Service Medal, Overseas ribbons (3), NATO Medal
Chinook pilot turned acquisition officer shares insights from industry; community
By Tara Clements
From an early age, all Lt. Col. Al Niles Jr. wanted to do was fly—and that landed him in a career as an Army Aviator 19 years ago.
But after years of being a Chinook helicopter aviator and maintenance test pilot with multiple combat deployments, Niles decided to change his course and became an Army acquisition officer. Backed with his experience as a pilot, he has been working on a different end of aviation—one that doesn’t use pen and paper like some would assume. Instead, he’s on the program management side of acquisition and spends his time doing what he loves: working with aviation-related programs.
For the last year, he’s been a fellow in the Army acquisition Training with Industry (TWI) program, working with Lockheed Martin in Orlando, Florida, and gaining experience on everything from program management and business development to capture management, finance and contracting.
Dedicated to giving back to the community and inspiring a younger generation, Niles recently spoke to a kindergarten class at Saint Cloud Preparatory Academy in Saint Cloud, Florida. He’s logged more than 250 hours of community service during his time in the TWI program, supporting veterans’ organizations, schools and youth programs. (Saint Cloud Preparatory Academy photo by Tamara Carpenter)
“I’ve had the opportunity to participate in the integrated process for several commercial aviation and international programs, for which I was able to provide helpful viewpoints,” Niles said on his experience with TWI, noting that his technical aviation expertise provided him the opportunity to work with several teams charged with resolving complex aviation challenges.
Fitting with his Special Operations Forces acquisition experience and background, Niles is set to take command as the Product Manager for Special Operations Forces Training Systems at the Program Executive Office (PEO) for Simulation, Training, and Instrumentation next month, and he plans on taking some of the lessons he’s learned from industry to this next assignment. One of those lessons doesn’t focus on the equipment, but the people who make it happen. “I had the opportunity to observe talent management techniques from a different perspective during my TWI experience, which solidified that finding and keeping skilled talent takes coaching, tracking and investing in the right training and education opportunities for the workforce. People first!”
In what spare time he can muster, Niles makes sure he finds ways to be involved with the Orlando community. Whether it’s with veterans’ organizations, schools or youth programs, he has racked up more 250 hours of community service during his time in the TWI program. “I think that it is very important that we give back to the community and inspire our future leaders, the children, whenever it’s possible,” he said.
“Many of us have experienced challenges or moments that have shaped us into who we are today. I feel as though the time that I dedicate to give back to could result in another individual to achieve greatness,” he added.
Lt. Col. Al Niles Jr., an Army acquisition officer, has been a fellow in the Army acquisition TWI program for the last year working with Lockheed Martin in Orlando, Florida, and gaining experience on a range of disciplines, including program management, business development, capture management and contracting. (Lockheed Martin photo by Gary Wilcox)
His intent to serve the community didn’t start with TWI. Every January for the last few years, he makes the trip to his alma matter, Tuskegee University, to speak to students and ROTC cadets and to connect with junior soon-to-be officers, pointing them to the resources and information he didn’t have as a lieutenant. What motivates Niles to make community service a priority? He says it’s pretty simple: “A sense of duty and responsibility to something bigger than myself.”
What do you do in the Army? Why is it important?
I’m an Army acquisition officer responsible for managing programs that provide Army helicopters and state-of-the-art equipment for our Soldiers. Acquisition officers are important because we help develop, test and field the most advanced capabilities to our warfighters anywhere in the world. This includes special operations, conventional, joint conventional and coalition forces. In the acquisition field, you’re able to assess needs and fix problems that others face—that’s how acquisition officers can affect the greater good.
What has your experience with the TWI program at Lockheed Martin been like? What assignments have you had, and what have you found to be the biggest challenge?
My experience has been very positive. I’ve had the opportunity to participate in the overall process for several programs by providing analysis and recommendations. In this profession, I’m continuously developing my business expertise by being involved in major acquisition programs. I’ve been able to gain an in-depth understanding of the Lockheed Martin organization and how it relates to the Army from a business perspective, and I was also able to participate in domestic and international business operations. Given my aviation experience and the timing of a new contract, I was allowed to participate and observe an international sales project from the beginning. This involved many team meetings and a direct interface with the lead engineers and program manager. Initially, the biggest challenge was understanding and translating industry’s strategic budgeting initiatives, as it relates to their international sales.
What has surprised you the most?
The vast amount of knowledge and support we [the military] get from our national laboratories and collegiate partners. When you’re in the Acquisition Corps, you get to see that we collaborate with many organizations to develop equipment for Soldiers. There are a tremendous amount of people and other experts outside of the military who put resources into developing a boot, a helmet, a weapon system, etc. It’s not just one or two people.
What would you say to someone considering TWI?
Know exactly what you’d like to learn while you’re in TWI. Know what you expect to get out of the year of experience—there won’t be a program laid out for you when you get there. That’s what they [industry] want and expect of the officers who come to work with them.
What is your greatest satisfaction in being part of the Army?
Having the opportunity to support and defend my country in multiple combat tours. I’ve served as a company commander of an aviation unit in Iraq, a Chinook aviation operations officer in Afghanistan, the assistant product manager for the aviation fielding officer for Product Manager Air Warrior in Iraq and Afghanistan [within PEO Soldier], and the chief of aviation accident investigations for Afghanistan. Through the years and several deployments, I think the acquisition community has gotten better at providing the warfighter with the equipment and services they need anywhere in the world. As the mission has transitioned, so has the ability of the Army Acquisition Corps to be more agile, effective and efficient.
“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.
Subscribe to Army AL&T News, the premier online news source for the Acquisition, Logistics, and Technology (AL&T) Workforce.
