ABERDEEN PROVING GROUND, Md (December 23, 2016). -- With over 90 combined years of test and evaluation, or T&E, experience, two trailblazers of the U.S. Army Test and Evaluation Command, or ATEC, Test and Evaluation Basic Course, known as TEBC, Mr. Larry Leiby, Special Assistant to the Army T&E Executive for Policy and Education, and Mr. Fred McCoy, Principal System Analyst contractor for the ATEC, will retire in 2017.
Leiby and McCoy have been part of the evolution of the TEBC for almost 26 years. Both played a role in the inception of the course when ATEC was formerly the Operational Test and Evaluation Command, or OPTEC, which consisted of the Test and Experimentation Command, or TEXCOM, and the Operational Test and Evaluation Agency, or OTEA.
In accordance with ATEC Regulation 350-11, the TEBC is defined as a fundamental component of ATEC's initial training program and an essential part of Command employee in-processing. The course is comprised of an online and a resident phase.
The online phase is 40 hours of self-paced training that provides a thorough overview of ATEC's integrated T&E process. The resident phase is a 36-hour seminar centered around ATEC System Team, known as AST, activities to include planning, executing, and reporting ATEC's T&E responsibilities throughout the Defense Acquisition System.
"I was in charge of system level test and evaluation training for OTEA, and Mr. Ralph Hughart, senior operational research systems analyst, Operational Test Command, was the primary instructor for the training for TEXCOM," McCoy said. "Upon consolidation of the two organizations, we were instructed to combine the two courses, and Larry, my colleague at the time, joined me and Ralph to create the TEBC that we have today."
McCoy noted that all three gentlemen have been instructors of the course since the TEBC was created up until now.
Leiby recalled their participation as members of the TEBC Technical Review Committee, or TRC.
"As an active member of the TEBC TRC, I played a critical role in the development of the On-line Training, as well as, creation of the Practical Exercises used in the TEBC Resident Seminar," Leiby said. "Since 2000, I was the Headquarters Department of the Army Guest Speaker at every TEBC Resident Seminar."
Additionally, Leiby explained his responsibility for ensuring that the material was within established Army and Office of the Secretary of Defense T&E policies and procedures.
Both Leiby and McCoy firmly believe in the importance of the TEBC for the acquisition workforce.
"As the course name implies, TEBC provides newly assigned ATEC employees a unique opportunity to learn how to 'Talk-the-Talk' of test and evaluation in a non-threatening, non-attribution environment," Leiby said.
McCoy stated that the constantly updated TEBC meets ATEC's responsibility for the initial training for all new members of the Command.
Mr. Kevin Puckace, TEBC Course Director and TRC Chair, expressed his sincerest appreciation and gratitude on behalf of ATEC for the outstanding contributions of these TEBC team mates throughout the years.
"The level of dedication and support provided by Mr. Leiby and Mr. McCoy towards the development, conduct, and maintenance of the ATEC TEBC cannot be overstated," Puckace said. "For over a decade, they have reliably served as keynote instructors to the Resident Seminars and as valuable members to the TRC."
Now after faithful dedication to the TEBC and to the field of test and evaluation, these gentlemen are ready to conclude their careers. After 42 years of T&E experience, Leiby will retire in January 2017, and with 51 years of T&E experience, McCoy plans to retire in September 2017.
"Their years of test and evaluation experience, knowledge, and perspective elevated the TEBC students' educational experience, as well as, the quality of all TEBC products, to include multiple evolutions of the curriculum," Puckace said. "Their contagious enthusiasm, affable natures, and professional characters will be missed, while their contributions to ATEC and the United States Army will be long lasting."
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