JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-FORT SAM HOUSTON, Texas -- (Dec. 8, 2016) The deputy commanding general for the U.S. Army Materiel Command met with a handful of leaders to discuss operations during a Dec. 7 visit to Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston, Texas.
Lt. Gen. Larry Wyche also had to opportunity to speak with Army Acquisition Corps leaders from throughout the country as well as meet with industry during an outreach engagement while in San Antonio.
Army South leaders provided Wyche a command briefing on its security cooperation and response to contingencies with partner nation armies in the U.S. Southern Command area of responsibility. He also heard from Army North officials on how their command responds to and sets up a joint area of operations in support of a request by civil authorities or other mass destruction. Additionally, he met with leaders from the Installation Management Command and Medical Command.
Responsible for the Army's materiel readiness, AMC equips, sustains and enables the warfighter through technology, acquisition support, materiel development and logistics power projection across the spectrum of joint military operations. The Mission and Installation Contracting Command, headquartered at JBSA-Fort Sam Houston, and its subordinate units located throughout the country play a key role in that mission.
As part of his trip, Wyche addressed contracting leaders from throughout the MICC gathered at the installation this week for an acquisition leadership training event. He spoke on the subject of leadership and the importance of contracting support to the warfighter.
The AMC deputy commanding general said contracting professionals should seek opportunities that stretch their bounds for potential and rely on leaders who know what they are doing. He added that leadership involves a team approach.
"Will you be there for your people when they need you? Do they know that?" he posed to the audience of about 75 uniformed and civilian personnel. "That's what leadership is about. It's simple but not easy. Leadership is a tough business, and you have to work at it."
The general went on to say that by affirming the value of the contributions by those who comprise a team, leaders can achieve an ultimate goal of making each individual a better person for their organization and the Army. He concluded by emphasizing the bearing of Army contracting on the warfighter effort.
"Don't ever take lightly the location that you're operating out of with regard to the impact that you're having on our Soldiers," Wyche said. "What you have done has had a direct impact on Soldiers saving Soldiers lives. I can say that, because I have been on the receiving end of it."
After speaking with MICC acquisition leaders, he received an operational update and command brief from the Expeditionary Contracting Command's 410th Contracting Support Brigade also located at JBSA-Fort Sam Houston, which is responsible for planning and executing contingency contracting for Army South in support of Army and joint operations throughout SOUTHCOM.
Wyche finished the day in San Antonio with an industry engagement at the Southwest Research Institute where discussions included cyber capabilities. The event also included an overview of the institute's support for AMC and the Army as it relates to AMC Commanding General Gen. Gustave Perna's priorities of strategic readiness, future force, and taking care of Soldiers and people. The president of Southwest Research Institute is one of 12 industry partners who previously participated in one of AMC's semiannual CEO forums.
AMC is headquartered at Redstone Arsenal, Alabama, and is one of three Army commands. It provides oversight for 10 major subordinate commands and four separate reporting units made up of a workforce of more than 64,000 military and civilian employees.
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