CSM Castillo Takes the Reigns

By Giselle Lyons, Army Contracting CommandAugust 12, 2016

usa image
1 / 3 Show Caption + Hide Caption – (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
usa image
2 / 3 Show Caption + Hide Caption – (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
usa image
3 / 3 Show Caption + Hide Caption – (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

REDSTONE ARSENAL, Ala. - The Army Contracting Command gained a new enlisted leader during a Command Sergeant Major Change of Responsibility ceremony here April 19.

Command Sgt. Major Jose A. Castillo became ACC's fourth command sergeant major, succeeding Command Sgt. Maj. David M. Puig, who has held the position for two years.

Maj. Gen. James E. Simpson, ACC commanding general, officiated the ceremony. He praised Puig and welcomed Castillo.

"Sergeant Major Puig has served and excelled during a time when ACC faced many great challenges," Simpson said, before listing many of Puig's accomplishments. "He played a key leadership role in the successful merger of the ACC and Expeditionary Contracting Command headquarters staffs into a consolidated team."

He said Puig's leadership was essential when ACC made history by deploying a contracting support brigade that assumed responsibility for the U.S. Central Command Joint Theater Support Contracting Command mission and eventually became ECC -- Afghanistan. Simpson added that Puig was also instrumental in ACC successfully deploying a contracting battalion to western Africa in support of Operation United Assistance to help fight Ebola and consolidating the ACC "Best Warrior Competition" for the first time.

Simpson then turned his attention to Castillo.

"Your impressive 28-year Army career highlights your qualifications to be the next command sergeant major of this great command," Simpson said. "We are indeed blessed to have a person of your character and experience assuming the role as our senior enlisted leader."

Castillo comes to the command from the 19th Expeditionary Sustainment Command in Korea, where he was also the command sergeant major.

Castillo is eager to lead ACC.

"Readiness is my purpose," he said at the ceremony. "…and leadership is a privilege that must be earned each and every day, earned by serving the Soldiers and Civilians in this great command."

Puig wanted to leave the command with thoughts on leadership and taking care of their workforce as well.

"Leadership is about taking care of people," he said. "You can own your command climate if you lead your people."

He ended his speech by saying that Castillo was "well-suited to take on the responsibility" of leading ACC.

Puig is moving to Fort Bliss, Texas, where he will participate in a Pennsylvania State University fellows program and then teach at the U.S. Army Sergeants Majors Academy.

ACC is a major subordinate command of U.S. Army Materiel Command. ACC is comprised of two subordinate commands--the U.S. Army Mission and Installation Contracting Command and the U.S. Army Expeditionary Contracting Command--and six major contracting centers. ACC provides global contracting support to warfighters engaged in military operations, weapon system acquisition, life cycle management and sustainment and acquisition of goods and services vital to the Soldier's mission and well-being. Its workforce includes more than 6,000 military and civilian personnel at more than 100 locations worldwide. In fiscal year 2015, ACC awarded and managed more than 173,000 contract actions valued at more than $54.7 billion.