Jeff Parsons, executive director of the Army Contracting Command, announced today his intent to establish a new Contingency Support Center to coordinate and manage all command support to contingency operations both within the U.S. and overseas. According to Parsons, "The key to achieving this goal is to better synchronize enterprise-wide efforts and to more effectively leverage the expertise and talent we have across the command."

As the focal point for purchasing equipment, goods and services for the U.S. Army across the globe, ACC Soldiers and civilians deploy whenever and wherever they are needed to support America's Army. The new Contingency Support Center will serve as ACC's single entry point for all external contingency requirements and develop the capacity to provide better, more responsive and comprehensive support to contingency operations. The Center will also recruit and maintain a standing roster of qualified civilian employees who have volunteered for overseas deployment. Center personnel will track and report on the status of all ACC contingency contracting support, including that provided to the U.S. Central Command in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Commenting on the need for a Contingency Support Center, Parsons explained: "We currently have multiple processes, some similar and redundant, others inconsistent and disparate, across the command for receiving requests for contingency support, deploying ACC personnel, and maintaining accountability for our deployed Soldiers and civilians. My goal is to establish a unity of effort and provide command-wide visibility for these critical operations."

The ACC Contingency Support Center is expected to commence operations in April.