MICC contracting officer bound for leadership program

By Ryan Mattox, Mission and Installation Contracting Command Public Affairs OfficeJanuary 28, 2014

MICC contracting officer bound for leadership program
Monica Clemons was selected recently for the U.S. Army Acquisition Support Center's Competitive Development Group/Army Acquisition Fellows Program. She is a contracting officer for the Human Resource Solutions Division with the Mission and Installati... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-FORT SAM HOUSTON, Texas (Jan. 28, 2014) -- A member of the Mission and Installation Contract Command has been selected for the U.S. Army Acquisition Support Center's Competitive Development Group/Army Acquisition Fellows Program.

Monica Clemons, a contracting officer for the Human Resource Solutions Division at Fort Knox, Ky., was selected for the three-year leadership program that offers competitively selected individuals expanded leadership training and experience opportunities.

"I hope to gain a better understanding of the Army from a program management perspective and as a whole by having the opportunity to work at different organizations with different levels of responsibility," Clemons said. "I expect this opportunity will prepare me to seek positions of higher responsibility."

The program develops future Army acquisition leaders and provides expanded training, leadership, experiential and other career development opportunities. It is also a precursor for developmental assignments in program executive offices, assistant Secretary of the Army for acquisition, logistics and technology offices, Army Materiel Command headquarters and functional organizations. To be eligible, candidates must be GS-12 or GS-13 or equivalent broad-band/pay-band level civilians. They must be level III certified in an acquisition career field and be a current Department of the Army acquisition, logistics, and technology workforce member. Candidates must also have demonstrated a high-level of leadership potential.

"The program is an excellent opportunity to obtain experience in other career fields or expand experiences within your career field," Clemons said. "Leaders must expand their knowledge of other career fields to understand how decisions they make affect the entire system and the program is the perfect vehicle to accomplish this goal. This program provides the opportunity to choose the assignments that best meet specific career goals. In addition, it provides access to senior leaders who can mentor and guide you through your career. I highly encourage acquisition professionals to apply for this or other available programs that are designed to increase leadership and professional skills."

There are two distinct tracks for placement. The Program Manager Leader Track offers individuals an opportunity for developmental assignments as an assistant program manager in a program management office; as a member on the ASA(ALT)/AMC staff; and then possibly as a deputy program manager in a program management office. The Acquisition Leader Track allows individuals an opportunity for developmental assignments as an assistant program manager, or executive officer position; an assignment to the ASA(ALT) staff or AMC headquarters; and a developmental assignment to an acquisition position at a higher level organization. Clemons chose the Program Manager Leader Track.

"Most of my government work experience has been in contracting. I intend to pursue assignments that will take me outside my comfort zone," Clemons said. "My goal is to pursue assignments in the program management career field and become level III certified in program management by the completion of the program."

She also plans to pursue an assignment at a headquarters office, either with AMC, Army Contracting Command, or the ASA(ALT).

"Having the opportunity to spend some time working at a headquarters office will be an invaluable experience and will be essential to accomplishing my goal of gaining a better understanding of the Army."

Stephanie Bowman, chief of the human resource solutions division at MICC-Fort Knox, has worked with Clemons for more than five years. She believes Clemons was selected for this program based on her strong leadership skills demonstrated as a pre-award team leader in her division as well as serving as a mentor for other pre-award and post-award division members on various aspects of the contracting process.

"I have always encouraged her to seek further career development opportunities and have provided her with work assignments and projects to expand her contracting knowledge," Bowman said. "She is a dedicated acquisition professional who represents herself and the organization in the highest possible regards and is highly respected by her peers, senior personnel and personnel outside the organization. She willingly accepts high visibility assignments and provides selfless service to her team and the division over and above her position duties."

Bowman added that Clemons personifies a "can-do" attitude and consistently places success of the mission above individual accolades while demonstrating great potential for future leadership opportunities.

The MICC is responsible for providing contracting support for the warfighter at Army commands, installations and activities located throughout the continental United States and Puerto Rico. In fiscal 2013, the command executed more than 43,000 contract actions worth more than $5.3 billion across the Army, including more than $2.1 billion to American small businesses. The command has also managed more than 780,000 Government Purchase Card Program transactions this fiscal year valued at an additional $880 million.

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Mission and Installation Contracting Command

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