ABERDEEN PROVING GROUND, MARYLAND - Described by his colleagues as humble, calm, cool and collected, Robert "Bob" Carter (Senior Executive Service), executive technical director, U.S. Army Test and Evaluation Command, hopes to leave a legacy of what he sees as his most impactful role as a leader--developing people.
During his retirement ceremony, December 16, Carter was presented the Decoration for Exceptional Civilian Service, United States Flag Government Citation and the ATEC Medallion Retirement Certificate. Carter thanked his wife, who received the Outstanding Civilian Service Medal, and children for the support over the years as they remained resilient through the multiple moves, new schools and willingness to meet new friends.
"The last thirty-one years passed in the blink of an eye, and I couldn't have done it without my family, who has been fully supportive," said Carter. "It's funny when I look back, because I took a circuitous path after high school, which is surprising to most when I share the story," said Carter with a smile as he reflected on his start in government service.
Not unlike many young people fresh out of high school, Carter didn't know he would one day lead an organization that enables Army innovation and increased Soldier capabilities to support the nation's defense. Taking a rather non-traditional route, when he graduated from high school, he took a series of mechanical engineering preparation courses for two years at Harford Community College in 1974, with plans to matriculate to a four-year institution.
To his parent's surprise, Carter decided to take a break from studying engineering, calculus, differential equations and physics, to race motorcycles.
"Back then, I thought, 'I don't know about this engineering stuff,'" Carter said in jest. "So I decided to take a sabbatical to be a motorcycle racing mechanic, and race motorcycles for about four years."
Then, young Carter thought his path of being a motorcycle racing mechanic was more aligned with his interests. After four years of being a mechanic, he had the insight to explore his options in hopes of making more money. He went on to pursue a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering at the University of Delaware, from which he graduated in 1983.
"It took me three years to finish up my four-year degree because I had forgotten everything I learned when attending HCC," he said. "I remember that my mom was proud of me for finishing, especially since I was older than most of my classmates. I got a late start, but that's okay.
"I had never thought about working for the Army, and didn't know what I wanted to do after college, like a lot of new graduates," said Carter.
He began working for Aberdeen Proving Ground not long after graduation, thanks to a neighbor who knocked on his door and recommended he apply. A week later, Carter was in training to become a test director at what's now the Aberdeen Test Center.
He credits the Army for placing him in leadership roles from the start. "The Army's values are the same as the values your parents teach you at home, and that's what I've stuck to over the years," he said. "The formula is simple."
He named three primary components that have been the recipe to how he manages his career: knowing that Army values start at home and sticking to the values for the duration of his career; always having respect for others; and always doing your best.
"Bob has always held true to his values of integrity, loyalty and respect for others," said Karen Taylor, ATEC chief of staff who has known him for the past 20 years. She praised his ability to see the big picture and always being even-keeled when in the midst of crisis.
Over the course of Carter's 31-year career, he saw organizations change, evolve and get restructured. In some cases, Carter served as one of the lead change agents to posture and integrate Army test and evaluation organizations to support the Army of tomorrow.
Maj. Gen. Peter D. Utley, ATEC commander, said Carter will leave this command better because of his personal commitment to its members and to the Army profession.
"When it comes to knowing the ins and outs of test and evaluation, Bob is the best," said Utley. "He has seen the test and evaluation mission evolve over more than three decades, and has been a major contributor to shaping how the Army's test and evaluation mission is structured, managed, and executed."
What Carter considers one of his proudest roles is his participation in the feasibility study teams that resulted in the consolidation of Army evaluation and testing activities. This led to the creation of ATEC, Carter explained, under which the Army's operational testers, developmental testers and evaluators remain under one organization.
Carter quotes "change" as being the only constant in life and credits much of his career successes to his willingness to remain flexible and mobile over the last three decades. After four detail assignments to the DC area, including the Pentagon, Office of the Secretary of Defense, Army War College and ATEC Headquarters in Alexandria, he spent five years at White Sands Missile Range, New Mexico, during Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom.
"I didn't have a military background and had never been exposed to the operational side of the Army," explained Carter. "I got to experience first-hand what it was like to live on an Army installation [at WSMR] with Soldiers who were part of a deployable FORSCOM [Army Forces Command] unit.
"This was at a time when they were deploying to the recent missions to Iraq and Afghanistan," he said.
Carter advises young Army professionals to expose themselves to the operational side of the Army earlier in their careers and sees it as a professional development component that will put their career impact in perspective.
Of all of his career accomplishments, Carter sees mentoring and coaching as the most important legacy a senior leader can leave.
"There is a saying that, 'before you're a leader, you're focused on developing yourself,'" said Carter. "Later, I realized that my job as a leader was to focus on developing others. If all leaders took that responsibility somewhat seriously, we could probably do a little better, as an organization and as an Army, than we're doing now."
Carter offered a few words of advice to young professionals aspiring for career progression.
"Be willing to get outside of you comfort zones and be willing to explore, even laterally, other facets of the Army to add breadth to your career experience," said Carter. "Look at the military for example. Soldiers are reassigned every three years, and it's almost always to new organizations, and most time to a new location.
"It may be to a new location within the states, or abroad," he said. "Through the course of reassignments, Soldiers have a great advantage to world experience and develop career breadth, not just depth."
Carter encourages Army professionals aspiring for leadership to "[…] live the Army values, seek out educational opportunities, remain flexible, be willing to relocate, have a plan to broaden yourself, and never burn any bridges because you never know where you may end up."
"The Army is an incredible institution by virtue of the sheer size of it, its mission, all the various roles and functions the Army performs," he said. "There is probably nothing equivalent to it in the corporate world, or abroad; we're the most powerful Army in the world.
"For me, being part of an organization that has a higher purpose than any of the individuals who make it up is the most rewarding part of being an Army professional," Carter said. "Your job is more than a job; it's about ensuring the American way of life."
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