Undersecretary engages acquisition and contracting workforce; discusses priorities

By Sofia Bledsoe, Program Executive Office for AviationAugust 20, 2015

Undersecretary presents "Spotlight" awards
1 / 4 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Forrest W. Collier (left), product director for the UH-60V Black Hawk, received the "Spotlight" award from the Honorable Frank Kendall, the Pentagon's top acquisition executive. Collier was recognized for successfully leading the effort to execute a ... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Undersecretary presents "Spotlight" awards
2 / 4 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Rhonda N. Neal, contract price/cost analyst in the Pricing Directorate of the Army Contracting Command, received the "Spotlight" award from the Honorable Frank Kendall, the Department of Defense's top acquisition executive. Neal distinguished herself... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Undersecretary engages acquisition and contracting workforce at All Hands
3 / 4 Show Caption + Hide Caption – (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Undersecretary presents "Spotlight" awards
4 / 4 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Lawrence J. Abrams (left), assistant project manager for Strategic Planning and Operations within the Lower Tier Project Office, received the "Spotlight" award from the Honorable Frank Kendall, Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology a... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

REDSTONE ARSENAL, Ala. - The top acquisition executive for the Department of Defense met with several organizations and conducted a Workforce Engagement Visit on Aug. 12-13.

Frank Kendall, undersecretary of defense for acquisition, technology and logistics, held a series of meetings with the acquisition and contracting workforce to include an all-hands with representatives from the Program Executive Offices for Aviation and Missiles and Space, Army Contracting Command, Aviation and Missile Command, and the Aviation and Missile Research, Development and Engineering Center.

Speaking to a packed audience in Bob Jones Auditorium during the all-hands Aug. 12, Kendall discussed his priorities especially Better Buying Power efficiency initiative 3.0, promoting the strengthening of the culture of cost consciousness, professionalism and technical excellence. BBP 3.0 is focused on maintaining the Pentagon's technological superiority over U.S. adversaries which will be accomplished based on "the effectiveness of our research and development efforts."

Kendall reviewed several of the top areas of focus covered under the initiative, engaged the workforce on future budget challenges, acquisition workforce accomplishments, and took a few questions at the end of the all-hands.

He also held a senior leader lunch with key leadership in the acquisition and contracting community, including Lt. Gen. Larry Wyche, deputy commander of the Army Materiel Command and senior commander of Redstone Arsenal.

Kendall facilitated three roundtable discussions with a smaller group of the workforce and had a candid discussion focused on acquisition, engineering and contracting related topics.

During the roundtables, several individuals and one team were recognized, highlighting the great work and contributions that the acquisition and contracting team members have made. The essential element of Kendall's "Spotlight" Recognition Award is to recognize individuals or team members who are doing great work for the Department of Defense, but are not necessarily in the spotlight on a day-to-day basis.

"Spotlight" recipients included:

• Forrest Collier, product director, UH-60V Black Hawk, Utility Helicopters Project Office, Program Executive Office for Aviation

• Lawrence Abrams, assistant project manager for strategic planning and operations, Lower Tier Project Office, Program Executive Office for Missiles and Space

• Rhonda Neal, contract price/cost analyst, Pricing Directorate, Army Contracting Command-Redstone

• Armed Scout Helicopters Project Office, PEO Aviation

• Jeannie Sommer, test lead, Indirect Fire Protection Capability Increment 2-Intercept, Cruise Missile Defense Systems Project Office, PEO Missiles and Space

• Henry Molnar, lead procurement analyst, Army Contracting Command-Redstone