AMC stands up provisional contracting command

FORT BELVOIR, Va. -- With the uncasing and transfer of the flag from the commanding general of the U.S. Army Materiel Command to its new executive director and the reading of the permanent orders, the Army Contracting Command is now a provisional major subordinate command of AMC.

Gen. Benjamin S. Griffin and Jeffrey P. Parsons conducted the stand up ceremony in front of a crowd of nearly 200 people on the AMC parade field here March 13.

The ceremony also officially stood up the provisional one-star level Expeditionary Contracting Command lead by Col. Camille Nichols and the provisional one-star level Installation Contracting Command lead by Bryon Young. Young was previously the director of the Army Contracting Agency which now realigns under AMC and becomes part of the new ACC.

Griffin spoke of his confidence in the command's new leadership and their ability to make the organization something that the Army could be proud of and would inspire the confidence of the American people. He also reminded them to stay focused on the customer, the warfighter, in all they do.

On Jan. 30, Secretary of the Army Pete Geren, who attended the ceremony along with the acting under secretary of the Army Nelson Ford, directed the establishment of the ACC and the realignment of the ACA under AMC to immediately implement the Gansler Commission's recommendation to restructure Army contracting efforts and assign responsibility to facilitate contracting and contract management in expeditionary and U.S.-based operations.

Forty three days later, AMC stood up the provisional command.

"This is a revolutionary change and what I'd consider lightning speed," said Griffin, noting the Army's commitment to making contracting a core competency and immediately implementing solutions to past problems.

The two-star level ACC will eventually consist of 5,800 personnel including civilians and Army officers, warrant officers, and non-commissioned officers, and will oversee at least $85 billion in contracts per year.

"This new command is more than just a reorganization - it truly is the transformation of the contracting capability of two organizations into a new structure that leverages contracting expertise across an extensive enterprise who primary purpose is to equip and serve Soldiers," said Parsons.