REDSTONE ARSENAL, Ala.--Army Contracting Command senior leaders came together here to discuss how the command will improve its ability to enable Army readiness and modernization through contracting solutions.
The ACC Senior Leaders Forum, held Oct. 31-Nov. 1, focused on the theme of "Shaping the Future through Acquisition."
Maj. Gen. Paul Pardew, ACC commander, told the command's contracting center directors, Mission and Installation Contracting Command and contracting support brigade commanders and command sergeants major to "go on the offensive."
"We need to be in front of everything--requirements, proposals--everything," he said.
He said every branch of the U.S. armed forces is dependent on ACC. He highlighted weapons procured at ACC-New Jersey; ammunition contracted for at ACC-Rock Island, Illinois; communications equipment procured through ACC-Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland; and vehicles acquired through ACC-Warren, Michigan, as examples of items used across the joint force.
"We need to tell our story," he said. "It's amazing what we are doing."
Pardew reminded attendees that they either are or about to be strategic leaders. He said they are to set their organization's culture--teach, coach, mentor--and not always be in the "drive" mode.
He also instructed them to regularly communicate the command's priorities to their staffs.
"Staple the priorities to every cubicle," he said. "Explain why it's important to the lowest person in the organization. You have to communicate that over and over again."
Attendees also heard from Lt. Gen. Ed Daly, Army Materiel Command deputy to the commanding general and Redstone Arsenal senior mission commander, Lisha Adams, AMC executive deputy to the commanding general and Stuart Hazlett, the deputy assistant secretary of the Army for Procurement.
Presentations focused on strategic leadership, AMC's Shape the Fight initiative, the use of Other Transaction Authority contract vehicles, ACC's pivot to contract administration, and strategies and processes to reduce procurement lead time.
The leaders were updated on ACC's support to Army Futures Command, the command's strategic human capital plan, the deployable cadre program and inspector general trends.
ACC plans to conduct another Senior Leader Forum in the spring.
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