Albert "ALF" Fowlkes, a program integrator with AMCOM Operations (G3), recently received the Army Achievement Medal for his work as the lead planner for the 2016 Advanced Planning Briefings for Industry hosted by AMCOM in March.

The award was presented by AMCOM commander Brig. Gen. Doug Gabram.

The 2016 event was the first time Fowlkes led the event planning, which involved organizations from throughout Redstone Arsenal and the region. He oversaw all aspects of the event, including registration, scheduling and logistics. About 400 industry contractors attended.

"We do this event every year and I've been involved with the planning on previous years," Fowlkes said. "APBI is a requirement of the Federal Acquisition Regulation. It is an outreach program to government contractors and provides them information on our contract opportunities for the next two to five years."

Besides AMCOM, contractors heard presentations from the Corps of Engineers; Aviation, Missile, Research, Development and Engineering Center; and Program Executive Offices for Aviation and for Missiles and Space, and other government entities in the region.

Fowlkes had assistance in planning APBI from a committee that included Steve Fisher, Barbie Baugh, Dan O'Boyle, Traci Boutwell, Donna Ragucci and Tom Kallum. Work on APBI began about six months before the event.

"You have to get out in front of it to allow yourself enough time to plan effectively. It takes time to pull people and organizations together, and coordinating all that needs to be done to put on an APBI that offers timely and relevant information for industry," Fowlkes said.

APBI is one of several special projects that Fowlkes is assigned to in AMCOM Operations.

"The work I enjoy most is when I get an opportunity to venture outside the G3 on projects that transcend the command and Redstone Arsenal. When special teams are formed with a common goal and a defined end state, I like being able to work that project to its completion and then move on to the next opportunity," he said.

Fowlkes began working on Redstone Arsenal in 2007, first as a contractor for the Redstone Garrison Director of Information Management and then for AMCOM G3, working for both as a Continuity of Operations planner. He was insourced as a DA civilian in March 2011.

Fowlkes is a retired sergeant first class with 22 years of service, 10 as active duty and 12 with the Alabama National Guard. As an Airborne Infantry Soldier, Fowlkes served at Fort Richardson, Alaska, Fort Campbell, Ky., and Redstone Arsenal. He deployed as a telecommunications operations platoon sergeant to Operation Iraqi Freedom II in 2004. He also worked in the telecommunications and computer industry prior to coming to Redstone Arsenal.

When he's not a work, Fowlkes enjoys cooking, fishing and wood working. He and his wife have three children and three grandchildren.