Senior leaders from Army Contracting Command, major ACC contracting centers, the Expeditionary Contracting Command and the Mission and Installation Contracting Command met at Fort Sam Houston, Texas, March 27 to review selected command programs, priorities and initiatives.
In her opening remarks, Carol Lowman, ACC executive director, set the stage for the conference.
"We've come a long way since the command was established three years ago," she said. "We need to continue to grow, mature and sustain our team of military and civilian contracting professionals and provide them the guidance and means to succeed. Reduced budgets, manpower constraints and ever-changing priorities will continue to challenge us but I'm confident that, together, we will ensure the command provides quality contracting solutions in support of our war fighters."
The conference included presentations and group discussions that covered a wide range of subjects.
Stephanie Lopez, ACC deputy chief of staff for Installations and Logistics, briefed the attendees on the new Facilities Investment Corporate Board. She said the purpose of the board is to establish a decision-making process that provides a structure for the gathering, reviewing, prioritizing, approving and resourcing facility investment endeavors throughout the command.
The process ensures that proper analyses, priority and approvals are conducted prior to the investment of facilities funds. ACC Command Sgt. Maj. John Murray reviewed the progress of integrating and training military personnel throughout the command. He described how ACC Soldiers are learning basic contracting skills from civilian mentors at major ACC contracting centers and MICC installation contracting offices.
"We are making great progress in preparing our military contracting professionals to assume positions of greater responsibility," Murray said. "The creation of civilian to military contracting mentorship programs is a 'win-win' for everyone and has made us all better."
Lowman described how the ACC Industry Executive Council has served to improve communication between the command and civilian firms that do business with the Army.
"These meetings provide our contractors the opportunity to share concerns and ask questions about Army contracting policies and procedures," she said. "We've found this forum to be mutually beneficial and intend to continue this dialogue."
The conference concluded with an executive session that included an exchange of ideas and recommendations about personnel, budget, information technology, contract operations and other management issues.
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