SMDC stands up new acquisition office

By Jason B. Cutshaw, USASMDC/ARSTRAT Public AffairsMay 18, 2016

SMDC stands up new acquisition office
(Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

REDSTONE ARSENAL, Alabama -- The U.S Army Space and Missile Defense Command/Army Forces Strategic Command recently established a command liaison office to serve as the central focal point for the command's contracting needs. The office was created as a result of a leadership initiative to centralize and improve acquisition processes.

Diane Whitmore, chief, Command Acquisition Support Office, or CASO, began her new position at USASMDC/ARSTRAT on April 18. Her office will serve as the command's "one-stop shop" for contract actions to increase efficiency and improve cycle time, particularly as SMDC transitions many of its legacy contracts to the new Design, Development, Demonstration and Integration, or D3I, task order contract.

"A rising tide floats all ships," Whitmore said. "I believe if we all work together, we all benefit, and that includes the Army, SMDC and our industry partners. I am looking forward to working with everyone and really appreciate the SMDC leadership's support."

Whitmore comes to the command from the Defense Acquisition University and has more than 30 years of experience in the government and private sector serving with SMDC, Missile Defense Agency, Program Executive Offices and DAU. Her government career began as an operations research analyst at SMDC in February 1990. Prior to government, Whitmore served as a certified public accountant with Price Waterhouse and South Central Bell.

"I chose to accept this position because I see the importance of what SMDC/ARSTRAT does," Whitmore said. "There are a lot of important missions going on, and we need to get ahead of the technology and the threats from adversaries. Those missions inspired me to come back to the command to lead this new CASO office.

"I will be interfacing with Army Contracting Command and all of the major support elements and staff offices to advise and collaborate on their contract requirements," she added.

Her office will assist with contract requirements, source selection processes and post award surveillance. It will regularly report to the command's Senior Review Board, and will maintain liaison with the Army Contracting Command. Organizationally, the office resides in the Technical Center but will serve the entire command.

"Our office will standardize policies, support pre- and post-award contracting actions, and identify common training needs across the command," Whitmore said. "We will also reach out to other organizations to find out what they need."

She spoke of the office's importance and how it is new for SMDC. She also said there are similar offices being stood up in other organizations on Redstone Arsenal.

"We are already talking with each other and collaborating," Whitmore said. "It is important for Team Redstone that we all work together.

"Working together benefits everyone because we are learning to work smarter," she added. "This will help us standardize processes and get things on contract when they are needed. It also benefits our industry partners to avoid contract delays and communicate our acquisition strategies."

Whitmore said she has been knocking on doors and setting up office visits and wants to understand what people need from her office and what she can do to support their missions.

"Everyone has been welcoming and very supportive of my new role," Whitmore said. "I see a lot of familiar faces, from Senior Service College Fellows, DAU students, as well as former co-workers, so I feel right at home.

"We're working together to move the football down the field," she said. "In contracting, we know the next play to move it toward the goal line. We need to move the contract actions toward completion and we need to do that together."

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