On the Move

By AL&T Staff

| Army AL&T Magazine, Spring 2024 Edition

Read Time: < 8 mins

A man in a dark business suit with his hand over his heart stands next to a military officer in camouflage uniform during what appears to be a formal ceremony or event with blue curtains in the background.

Assistant Secretary Of The Army (Acquisition, Logistics and Technology)

New Leadership

Lt. Gen. Robert M. Collins, center, was appointed as the principal military deputy to the assistant secretary of the Army for acquisition, logistics and technology and director of the Army Acquisition Corps in January 2024 at the Pentagon. He previously served as the deputy for acquisition and systems management, where he provided executive oversight for the timely delivery of capability to Army and joint forces. At left is the Honorable Douglas R. Bush assistant secretary of the Army for acquisition, logistics and technology (ASA(ALT)). (Photo by Henry Villarama, U.S. Army)

Three men in business suits participating in what appears to be a medal or award ceremony, with one man pinning something on another's lapel while the third observes. Military flags and banners are visible in the background.
Two men in business suits holding a framed certificate or award together, standing in front of military flags and emblems in what appears to be an official presentation ceremony.

Program Executive Office for Enterprise Information Systems

Eis Welcomes New PEO

William “Bill” Hepworth, right, assumed the role of program executive officer (PEO), accepting the flag of the Program Executive Office for Enterprise Information Systems (EIS) from the Honorable Douglas R. Bush,assistant secretary of the Army for acquisition, logistics and technology (ASA(ALT)), center, during a change of charter ceremony Jan. 19, 2024, at the Pentagon. Hepworth assumed the role after serving as deputy to the former PEO,Ross Guckert,left, since December 2022. (Photo by Laura Edwards, PEO EIS Strategic Communication Directorate)

Former PEO Honored at Retirement

Ross Guckert, right, who had served as the PEO for EIS since May 2020, was honored during a retirement ceremony Jan. 19, 2024, at the Pentagon. Guckert received the Distinguished Civilian Service Award from the Honorable Douglas R. Bush, ASA(ALT), in recognition of his 34-year career as an Army civilian. Guckert also received the Award for Outstanding Service in the Army Senior Executive Service, to which he was appointed in 2007. (Photo by Laura Edwards, PEO EIS Strategic Communication Directorate)

A military officer in dress uniform being assisted with putting on or adjusting his uniform jacket by family members - appears to be a promotion or commissioning ceremony with American flag and other ceremonial flags in the background.

Mission and Installation Contracting Command

MICC Promotion

Maj. Gen. Douglas Lowrey was joined by his wife, Dena, and their three sons to pin on Lowrey’s new rank during a promotion ceremony Feb. 2, 2024, at the Fort Sam Houston Theater on Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston, Texas. Lowrey is the commanding general of the Mission and Installation Contracting Command. (Photo by Taylor Curry, 502nd Air Base Wing)

Stage setup for 'Defense Acquisition Workforce 2023 Awards' event, featuring a backdrop with event branding and multiple flags including American flags arranged on a stage platform.

Acquisition Workforce Recognition

Editor’s Note: We were unable to include all winners’ photos in this section because of the sheer volume of distinguished honorees. Congratulations to all our Army acquisition teammates!

2023 Defense Acquisition Workforce Awards

The 2023 Defense Acquisition Workforce Awards were held at the Defense Acquisition University Jan. 24, 2024, celebrating 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.Radha Iyengar Plumb, Ph.D., undersecretary of defense for acquisition and sustainment, presided over the ceremony during which 49 individuals from the Air Force, Army, Navy, defense agencies and field activities were recognized for their critical roles in fostering innovation and modernization. (Photo by Angela Sanson, U.S. Army Acquisition Support Center)

    Representing the Army among this year’s distinguished honorees:

  • Anne Decker from the Program Executive Office for Intelligence, Electronic Warfare and Sensors received the Individual Achievement Award for Auditing. Her 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.
  • ArmyIgnitED Team from the Program Executive Office for Enterprise Information Systems received 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.
  • Program Executive Office for Assembled Chemical Weapons Alternatives Team from Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland, 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.
A woman in military uniform holding a framed award or certificate, standing next to a podium with American flag and other military flags in the background.
Three men in business suits at an award presentation, with the center recipient holding a framed certificate or plaque, with American flag and military flags visible in the background.

2023 Army Acquisition Hall of Fame

A Leader Honored

James “Jim” Shields, was posthumously inducted into the Army Acquisition Hall of Fame in recognition of his exceptional leadership across the Army ammunition enterprise from 1983 to 2017. Christine Shields,widow of the honoree, accepted the award during the Army Acquisition Hall of Fame induction ceremony Oct. 9, 2023, in Washington. (Photos by ASA(ALT) Public Affairs)

Former PEO Honored at Retirement

Jeffrey Parsons, center, accepted his award from Under Secretary of the Army Gabe Camarillo, left, and Assistant Secretary of the Army for Acquisition Logistics and Technology Douglas R. Bush, during the induction ceremony. Parsons was inducted in acknowledgment of his federal service from 1977 to 2011 and his pivotal contributions to the transformation of the Army Contracting Command.

Six men in business suits and one person in military uniform standing together in a group photo formation with American flag and military flags in the background.

2023 Army Acquisition Executive's Excellence in Leadership Awards

Douglas R. Bush, assistant secretary of the Army for acquisition, logistics and technology (ASA(ALT)), hosted the Army Acquisition Executive’s Excellence in Leadership Awards ceremony on Jan. 9, 2024, at the Pentagon, alongside Lt. Gen. Robert M. Collins, principal military deputy to the ASA(ALT) and director of the Army Acquisition Corps. The ceremony celebrated the work of numerous honorees who supported the delivery of cutting-edge capabilities critical to Army transformation.

2023 Product Management/Product Director Office Team of the Year (O5 Level): Foreign Military Sales, Poland Program Office, PEO Ground Combat Systems (GCS). (Photo by Henry Villarama, U.S. Army)

Seven people including men in business suits and one person in military uniform posed together for a group photo, with one person appearing to hold an award, with flags in the background.

Former PEO Honored at Retirement

Contracting Unit/Team of the Year: U.S. Army Contracting Command (ACC) – Redstone Arsenal Team, Missiles and Space Directorate. (Photo by Henry Villarama, U.S. Army)

Five people including four women in business attire and one person in military uniform posed together for a group photo with one person holding what appears to be an award, with American flag and military flags in the background.

Innovation in Contracting Strategies Individual or Organization:Aviation & Missile Technology Consortium, Other Transaction Agreement Contracting Team. (Photo by Henry Villarama, U.S. Army)

Individual Honorees

Kelly Gorman, ACC-New Jersey, Acquisition Career Support Professional of the Year.

Rebecca Bowen, Office of the Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Army for Defense Exports and Cooperation, ASA(ALT), Defense Exportability and Cooperation Professional of the Year.

Ryan V. Lasecki PEO GCS, Business Operations Professional of the Year.

Chia (Jeff) Lee, Joint PEO for Armaments & Ammunition (JPEO A&A), Logistician of the Year.

Chad D. Young, PEO GCS, Product Management/ Product Director Office Professional of the Year (O5 Level).

Michael D. Sprang, PEO for Combat Support and Combat Service Support, Project Management/ Project Director Office Professional of the Year (O6 Level).

Michelle Talbot, ACC-Rock Island, Illinois, Contracting Professional of the Year.

Thomas W. McKendry, ACC-Rock Island, Barbara C. Heald (Deployed Contracting Civilian) of the Year.

Stephanie Wilson, ACC-Rock Island, Outstanding Grants or Agreements Professional of the Year.

Jeffrey Wyant, Army Corps of Engineers, Omaha District, Construction Services Contracting Professional of the Year.

Jonathan Biffle, PEO for Missiles and Space, Test and Evaluation Professional of the Year.

Monica Griffin, PEO for Intelligence, Electronic Warfare and Sensors, Engineering and Technical Management Professional of the Year.

Tilghman Turner, Army Redstone Test Center, Army Test and Evaluation Command, Digital Transformation Professional of the Year.

Bryan R. Samson, ACC, Lifetime Achievement in Contracting.

Team Honorees

Aviation & Missile Technology Consortium, Other Transaction Agreement Contracting Team, Innovation in Contracting Strategies Individual or Organization.

Foreign Military Sales, Poland Program Office, PEO GCS, Product Management/ Product Director Office Team of the Year (O5 Level).

Project Director Towed Artillery Systems, JPEO A&A Project Management/Project Director Office Team of the Year (O6 Level).

Army Operational Test Command, Air Missile Defense Test Directorate, Army Test and Evaluation Command, Test Organization of the Year.

ACC Redstone Arsenal Team, Missiles and Space Directorate, Contracting Unit/Team of the Year.

2023 Major General Harold j. "Harry" Greene Writing Awards

The Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Army (Acquisition, Logistics and Technology) sponsors the 2023 Major General Harold J. “Harry” Greene Awards for Acquisition Writing to encourage critical writing focused on Army acquisition challenges and successful efforts to overcome them.

To read the winners’ entries, see the 2023 Maj. Gen. Greene awards booklet insert.

Acquisition Reform

Alan Samuels, Ph.D., Jennifer W. Sekowski, Ph.D., and Brian B. Feeney, Ph.D., U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command, for “Rethinking Acquisition from Left of Requirements: DEVCOM Chemical Biological Center’s WILE-E (Warfighter Innovation Leveraging Expertise and Experimentation) Pilot Project.”

Honorable Mention: Joseph R. “Bo” Taylor III, PEO for Missiles and Space, for “Cybersecurity in a Rapid Capabilities Environment.”

Future Operations

Lt. Col. Edwin L. Kolen, JPEO for Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear Defense (JPEO-CBRND), for “Playing ‘Small Ball’: How the Defense Department Will Win Against Future Known and Unknown Biological Hazards.”

Honorable Mention: Caitlyn Hall, Army Aviation and Missile Command, for “Army Facilities Components System – A New Standard for Contingency Bases in Future Operations.”

Innovation

Dr. Christopher G. Earnhart and Dr. Lana A. Hopkins, JPEO-CBRND, for “Technologically Advanced Response System to High Consequence Biological Threats.”

Honorable Mention: Bonnie Evangelista, Office of the Secretary of Defense Chief Digital and Artificial Intelligence Office, for “Shop ’til You Drop: Introducing the Tradewinds Solutions Marketplace.”

Lessons Learned

Lt. Col. John M. Williams II, PEO for Simulation, Training and Instrumentation, for “Operationalizing Discovery: Lessons Learned from a DEVCOM Science Advisor.”

Honorable Mention: Robert H. Sullivan, Army Tank-automotive and Armaments Command, for “Lessons Learned: The Need for Best Practices for Coding Diagnostics and Troubleshooting in Army Technical Publications.”

Office of the Chief of Staff Announces Army General officers

Brig. Gen. David C. Phillips, program manager, Future Long Range Assault Aircraft, Program Executive Office for Aviation, Redstone Arsenal, Alabama.