ROCK ISLAND ARSENAL, Ill. -- Like his father, the new executive director of the Logistics Civil Augmentation Program, better known as LOGCAP, has landed the job of his dreams.
Jay T. Carr was formally appointed to the Senior Executive Service, Army Sustainment Command, during a ceremony here Aug. 6 in Heritage Hall. He heads up a program that has greatly benefitted those who have served in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Carr has served in his new position with LOGCAP since June. LOGCAP provides base support and combat support services to warfighters, federal civilians and contractors that make their tours tolerable -- mail, ice, laundry, gym and dining facilities to name a few.
"The lifeblood is pumped into you when you see what this program does," Carr said.
During his remarks, Carr said his father was working construction at Mayo Clinic when he died at 49. His dad loved construction work so much that the family had his helmet buried with him. Carr said he, too, is 49, and is now working in a job that he loves because of its great service to others.
In this position, Carr has overall executive responsibility for LOGCAP, a program that provides contractors from the private sector for a broad range of logistical and life support services to U.S. and allied forces during combat and training operations. Additionally, he is the principal interface for all LOGCAP operations within the federal government and Congress.
"No other program has supported Soldiers [and others] like LOGCAP in the last 10 years," he said.
Carr reminisced about a discussion he had with an Army captain while he was deployed to Iraq. The junior officer related to Carr how important LOGCAP was to the warfighter -- that it instantly raised morale and that it possibly provided a Soldier's last meal or movie.
It was in 1986 when Carr joined the Army and learned at basic training that "your life is not your own" anymore as the senior drill sergeant constantly reminded them that "their lives were his."
This understanding of a commitment to a greater cause than one's self has played itself out repeatedly in his career, Carr said.
His new position allows him, Carr said, to "recommit myself to something bigger than myself."
The Senior Executive Service was established in 1978 and is a corps of federal executives appointed to key leadership positions just below the level of presidential appointees, and includes most managerial, supervisory and policy positions in the executive branch of the federal government classified above General Schedule grade 15 or its equivalent.
SES members serve as the major link between presidential appointees and the federal civilian employees.
For protocol purposes, SES members within the Department of Defense are considered the equivalent of flag officers such as generals and admirals. Carr's appointment brings the total number of SES members at Rock Island Arsenal up to six with four in ASC.
D. Scott Welker, deputy to the ASC commander, presided at the ceremony.
"I'm sure you're all very proud of him," Welker said to Carr's immediate family, extended family and friends in the audience.
Welker, an SES member of eight years, explained that the hiring mechanism for an SES is quite extensive.
"It's a very lengthy process ... necessary to make sure the right people are selected," he said.
Out of a Defense Department workforce of an estimated 750,000, Welker said there 1,300 SES members throughout DoD, and only 338 SES's in the Army.
Welker also pointed out that Carr was the fourth SES to lead LOGCAP during the last 10 years.
He added that Carr possessed honor and has business integrity that will be needed to lead LOGCAP which functions in "a changing global environment."
"You have a great team in LOGCAP," Welker said. ""LOGCAP will make ASC a better team."
During the ceremony, Welker swore in Carr. Carr's wife, Jill, placed the SES pin on her husband's lapel.
Welker presented the SES flag to Carr with assistance from ASC's Headquarters and Headquarters Company 1st Sgt. William Rowley.
Prior to his current position, Carr served as director of Enterprise Contracting and alternate principal assistant responsible for contracting for Army Contracting Command -- Rock Island. His duties included providing contracting support and advice to primary customers, including Joint Munitions Command, Program Executive Office Ammunition, PEO Enterprise Information Systems and Chemical Materials Agency.
Other positions include: director, Contract Operations, ACC-RI (March 2011-March 2012); chief, Reachback Contracting Division, ACC-RI (July 2009 -- March 2011); executive officer, ACC-RI (March, 2009 -- July 2009); chief, Field Support Contracting Division, ACC-RI (September 2006 -- March 2009); branch chief, LOGCAP Contracting, ACC-RI (June 2004 -- September 2006; director of contracting, Army Central Command, Saudi Arabia (June 2003 -- June 2004); and chief, Contracting Division, Army Corps of Engineers, Rock Island District, (June 2001 -- June 2003).
Carr, who hails from Austin, Minn., is a 1989 graduate of Winona State University, Winona, Minn., with bachelor's degree in social sciences. He earned his master' s degree in management/acquisition and contract management in 1999 from Florida Institute of Technology, Melbourne, Fla.
He is an Army Acquisition Corps member and Level III certified in contracting.
Carr is also the recipient of the following awards and honors: 2011 Secretary of the Army Excellence in Acquisition Award (Team); 2008 Secretary of the Army Excellence in Acquisition Award (Team); 2006 Army Material Command Outstanding Military Contracting Officer of the Year; Legion of Merit; Bronze Star Medal; Meritorious Service Medal (4); Army Commendation Medal (5); and Army Achievement Medal (3).
He retired as a lieutenant colonel in 2009 with nearly 23 years of service.
Carr and his wife have a daughter, Linnea, and a son, Joe.
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