by Angela Sanson
FORT BELVOIR, Va. — The U.S. Army’s innovative spirit and commitment to acquisition excellence were recognized with three major awards at the prestigious 2023 Defense Acquisition Workforce Awards, held at the Defense Acquisition University on January 24, 2024.
The awards, spanning 24 categories, celebrate the exceptional achievements of individuals and teams who have significantly contributed to the National Defense Strategy and upheld the Secretary of Defense’s priorities through outstanding acquisition practices. The ceremony was a testament to the dedication and skill of the nearly 162,000 civilian and military professionals who comprise the Defense Acquisition Workforce, including more than 33,000 members of the Army Acquisition Workforce.
The Honorable Radha Iyengar Plumb, Ph.D., deputy undersecretary of defense for acquisition and sustainment, presided over the ceremony, lauding the talent and dedication of the defense acquisition community. “In reviewing the award citations, a number of things stood out,” said Plumb. “The proficiency and judgment of our mid-level officers and personnel—in acquisitions, amongst other military specialties—represents a real strategic advantage for the U.S.”
The honorees, a group of 49 individuals from the Air Force, Army, Navy, Defense Agencies and Field Activities, were recognized for their critical role in fostering innovation and modernization, thereby ensuring the warfighter’s enduring edge. Representing the Army among this year’s distinguished honorees are Anne Decker, U.S. Army ArmyIgnitED and U.S. Army Assembled Chemical Weapons Alternatives.
Anne Decker of Program Executive Office, Intelligence, Electronic Warfare and Sensors was honored with the Individual Achievement Award for Auditing. Decker’s transformative work in Risk Management Internal Control was instrumental in streamlining processes, reducing cycle times by 90%, mitigating manual error risks and advancing the Army’s audit readiness and compliance.
The ArmyIgnitED Team from Program Executive Office, Enterprise Information Systems, was recognized with the Software Innovation Team Award for their “Federated Agile Approach.” This approach, a partnership with the Air Force’s Academic Education Management system, streamlined education assistance delivery, achieving $180 million in cost savings and efficiency enhancements.
The U.S. Army Program Executive Office, Assembled Chemical Weapons Alternatives Team from Aberdeen Proving Ground received the David Packard Excellence in Acquisition Team Award. The team’s innovative approach to the safe and environmentally compliant destruction of chemical weapons has set a new standard for acquisition excellence.
Congratulations to all the winners for their outstanding achievements and their unwavering commitment to excellence in defense acquisition, reflecting the Army’s dedication to maintaining the highest standards of excellence and innovation, supporting the warfighter with the best possible equipment and services.
To learn more about the Defense Acquisition Workforce Awards, go to: https://asc.army.mil/web/acquisition-awards.
