ABERDEEN PROVING GROUND, Md. -- The U.S. Army Test and Evaluation Command headquarters launched its Leader Development Program October 1 to better prepare the ATEC workforce to meet challenges that employees face every day.
ALDP was developed to ensure our continued success in preparing our military and civilian employees for their future leadership challenges.
Understanding the importance of leader development at all levels within the Army, Maj. Gen. Peter D. Utley, commanding general of ATEC, encourages the workforce to take advantage of this program, in which all ATEC employees may participate.
"Our workforce is comprised of some of the most talented subject matter experts, which means that we need to ensure that the future leadership of this command and the federal government remains strong," said Utley.
The 24-month program, available to ATEC headquarters and Army Evaluation Center, is a self-regulated program available online and onsite that will provide each employee with a tailored leadership roadmap that outlines specific courses to develop targeted leadership competencies.
The program takes an integrated approach, focusing in on four lines of effort, including Talent Management; Professional Development; Teach, Coach and Mentor; and Army Profession. The Line of Effort for implementing this strategy are consistent with and complements the components of developing leaders through training, education, and experience.
Lorrie Chieffo, workforce development officer at ATEC and leadership program lead, is responsible for the execution of the program, explains the motive which prompted the program's development.
"For ATEC in particular, we have a significant percentage of our supervisory workforce eligible now or soon for retirement. We need to start doing what we can to prepare employees to take on new leadership challenges that may be presented as retirements occur," said Chieffo. "We are hoping to develop employee's leadership competencies to provide the foundation to accept challenges that are constantly arising every day."
As outlined in the Army's Ready and Resilient Campaign, leadership development plays a key role in helping build, strengthen, and maintain the Soldier and Civilian workforce as they execute the mission. The program will touch on a variety of skills sets that are aligned with the campaign, such as building upon mental, emotional, and behavior resilience that will help enhance their ability to manage the challenges of a demanding profession.
"Anyone can be a leader. It is not defined by a grade or position. Those who choose to step up to the leader role can take responsibility to develop their leadership skills and ability with this program," said Karen Taylor, ATEC chief of staff. "I am hoping everyone develops a new leadership skill or enhances a current leadership skill as a result of participating in this program."
Soldiers and Civilians can capitalize on leadership opportunities that align with the Army's Leader Development Strategy.
Civilians have a mandatory requirement to complete 80 Continuous Learning Points within two years. Resiliency classes give civilians an opportunity to earn CLPs by attending each class that influences leadership.
"Each resiliency course that you sign up for that is either work or leadership related, that is when it counts as one hour for one CLP," said George Bryant, acquisition program manager, ATEC. "If civilians go to the ALDP SharePoint, they will be able to find out exactly how many CLPs they can earn up to," said Bryant.
If interested in learning more about the ATEC Leader Development Program, visit the ALDP SharePoint site at https://portal.atec.army.mil/sites/G1/HQLD/default.aspx.
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