Brig. Gen. Paul H. Pardew, commanding general, Expeditionary Contracting Command, led a town hall forum with 414th Contracting Support Brigade, to provide his philosophy and address concerns that directly affect the contracting professionals at Caser...
From left , Maj. Gen. Joseph P. Harrington, U.S. Army Africa commanding general and Brig. Gen Paul H. Pardew, Expeditionary Contracting Command commanding general, pose for a photo in the USARAF commander's office at Caserma Ederle in Vicenza, Italy,...
Brig. Gen. Paul Pardew, Expeditionary Contracting Command commanding general, visited the 414th Contracting Support Brigade in Vicenza, Italy, Jan. 14-19, for a command visit with the organization. This was his first visit since assuming command of ECC on Oct. 14, 2016.
Pardew was the first commander of 414th CSB when Army Contracting Command activated the brigade in 2012. He later relinquished command to Col. Christine Beeler, the current commander, in July 2014, to serve as the Director of Operation Contract Support Services for the Joint Chiefs of Staff Directorate of Logistics at the Pentagon.
The CG led a town hall where he detailed his philosophy, shared his guidance, and reaffirmed his sustained support for the organization. He presented numerous awards and coins to contracting professionals for exceptional commitment to excellence. Pardew also recognized five Department of the Army civilians for their Federal service careers Three of the civilians were recognized for 25 years of service; Michael Patterson, deputy commander, Delores Cavanaugh, division chief of supply and construction, and Willie Wilson, personnel specialist.
During his visit to Vicenza, Pardew conducted senior leader engagements with the United States Army Africa and United States Army Garrison Italy leaders. His objectives for the meetings were building partnerships, improving the use of strategic sourcing, expanding his situational awareness of USARAF's organization, and understanding the long-term approach to operations in support of USARAF efforts.
The 414th CSB, USARAF Operational Contract Support Integration Cell, and several logistics planners briefed the Pardew on various exercises and capabilities.
The CG commended the 414th CSB's work ethic, its ability to tackle a complex mission and continuous synchronization with the tenant units. "A successful organization focuses on people, processes, and products," said Pardew. He later enjoyed the camaraderie of the unit's weekly team building exercise, which involved a fast-paced friendly competition of a basketball shootout.
He said the visit was like coming home because he and his family have remained in contact with many people throughout Caserma Ederle.
LTC Lucio Merlo, Caribineri Corps Commander (Italy's Police Force), presented a Caribineri calendar, a collector's item, to an astonished Pardew who has searched for this calendar for quite some time. As a culmination of his visit, the brigade's Italian Local Nationals invited BG Pardew to a local La Pasticceria (Italian pastry shop) for caffe' e pasticinni (coffee and pastries) with old friends. A morning of hearty laughter and stories of family updates filled the entire pasticceria.
The 414th CSB has a diverse and complex mission supporting readiness for European Command, U.S. Army Europe missions, and installation-level contracting for the USAG-Vicenza and Livorno, as well as operational planning and expeditionary contracting for U.S. Africa Command, U.S. Army Africa, and Special Operations Command-Africa missions across the African continent. The CSB provides readiness by harnessing the capabilities and capacity of industry and local markets to provide commanders with critical enablers to fight and win in a complex world. The "Ethics and Oversight" Brigade personnel are proud members of every organization they support.
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