The recent award of a Distinguished Flying Cross to a retired Army aviator set the example for Maj. Gen. Doug Gabram as he spoke with about 400 representatives of defense contractors at the Advance Planning Briefing for Industry hosted by the Aviation and Missile Command Dec. 6-7 at the Sparkman Center's Bob Jones Auditorium.
Describing the March 31, 2003 mission of retired Chief Warrant Officer Wade Fox south of Baghdad, Iraq, AMCOM's commander said it was AH-64A Apache helicopter technology and hardware developed and built through government and industry partnerships that saved the lives of Fox, his co-pilot and ground troops that day.
"That aircraft withstood a tremendous amount of fire. How does that happen? It happens from the partnership between government and industry," Gabram said.
"A rocket propelled grenade went through the belly of the aircraft and out the back end. The Hellfire missile on the Apache's rail was hit by heavy fire. But someone designed the missile not to blow up on the rail. This is how we work together to support the warfighters. This is a real, true example.
That's the point of need coming full circle."
Fox and his co-pilot were part of Charlie Co., Third Battalion, 101st Airborne Division. They were called on to provide reconnaissance and surveillance for the 2nd Brigade, 101st Airborne Division ground troops. They flew into heavy fire, sustained major damage and were still able to stay on mission for 1 and � hours until other support arrived.
Gabram sees the relationship between AMCOM, its enterprise partners and defense contractors as growing even stronger now that Unified Action is in place. In early 2016, the Army Materiel Command issued an operational order that established Unified Action, which aligns the Aviation and Missile Research, Development and Engineering Center, and the Army Contracting Command-Redstone with AMCOM.
Because of the new alignment, "the synchronization, collaboration and teamwork has improved greatly. It was tight before. But now we have gone full circle. This is the way it was pre 9-11. We've gone back to the future," Gabram said.
"AMCOM sets priorities for this new team to ensure we are nested with Army priorities as well as Training and Doctrine Command priorities and AMC priorities. We are growing stronger every day. Between AMCOM, AMRDEC, ACC-Redstone and the program executive offices for Aviation, and Missiles and Space, there is power in unification."
Gabram mentioned the recommendations of the Army Requirements Oversight Council, saying that they are "forcing us are to take a hard look at requirements in terms of sustainment. We are asking the question, 'Do we have it right?' I think that's powerful."
The AROC is taking a close look at the acquisition cycle, contracting effectiveness and testing effectiveness, and looking for ways to gain efficiencies.
"How we are nested together with Army priorities is really important, and so are the weapon systems that are involved and the funding that is involved," Gabram said. "Moving AMCOM's mission forward includes optimizing ACC-Redstone and AMRDEC efficiencies."
Gabram's emphasis on the key role defense contractors have in supporting AMCOM's mission was supported by comments made by Maj. Gen. Allen Elliott, AMC's deputy chief of staff.
"For 50 years, industry has been imbedded in every aspect of our mission," Elliott said. "For the next 50 years, there will be unprecedented changes in technology that will make the warfighter's environment even more complex.
"The future is unknown and unknowable. Things change so rapidly that you can't know how we'll fight and what threat will exist 50 years from now. But we do know we will work hand in hand with industry to defeat evolving threats."
Elliott urged industry to utilize the organic industrial base that AMC offers through its depots and makes available to defense contractors who need specific capabilities to meet contract requirements.
"It's a win-win scenario for both of us. Industry can do business at our facilities. We offer innovative research and development … The depots allow us to explore and expand basic research and industry partners enable us to innovate rapidly," Elliott said.
Other APBI presenters included John Smith, executive director of the AMCOM Logistics Center; James Lackey, director of the Aviation and Missile Research, Development and Engineering Center; and Becky Weirick, executive director of the Army Contracting Command-Redstone.
At the AMCOM Logistics Center, Smith said work is being done to integrate "supply chain planning all the way from the tip of the spear to headquarters. We will integrate the supply chain from end to end to provide a better forecasting opportunity and better reliability so that commanders can focus on their core mission."
Smith also emphasized the importance of AMCOM's two depots to its logistics strategy, saying ALC is "always looking for alternate sources of supply to expand our capability. There is greater interest in public/private partnerships as a way to leverage our capabilities … We've got to think outside the box to improve operational readiness and reduce costs."
In his presentation, Lackey reviewed AMRDEC capabilities and contract needs, saying to industry "the better we align ourselves, the more collectively we move forward together. There are potential opportunities for enabling more capability, survivability and sustainment."
Weirick, who leads the largest and one of the most diverse contracting centers in the Department of Defense, shared with the industry participants how ACC-Redstone has changed due to Unified Action.
"In Unified Action, we are partnering with our customers," she said. "We are one voice moving together to provide the Soldier with what they need and when they need it."
At Letterkenny Army Depot, the measurement of project performance and progress through Earned Value Management will ensure LEAD is competitive in providing support to AMCOM while also offering manufacturing support to defense contractors, said LEAD commander Col. Deacon Maddox. Toward that end, LEAD will improve production capabilities with a new facility complex built in partnership with local developers and government agencies in Pennsylvania.
Growing the depot's workload by adding IFPC Block 1 (the Multi-Mission Launcher) and Sentinel as foundational pieces while growing and sustaining public-private partnerships that will ensure LEAD's workload while also safeguarding the nation's organic industrial base, he said. But, to be successful, he added, LEAD must remain cost and schedule conscious.
Cost and schedule are also the main focus at Corpus Christi Army Depot, said CCAD commander Col. Allan Lanceta, adding that CCAD is also focused on modernization of the Army's helicopter fleet. The Improved Process Finishing, Cold Spray Technology and Toxic Metal Reduction are examples of new technologies that have a positive impact on readiness, the environment, cost and schedule.
"CCAD remains laser focused on our primary mission of providing valuable surge capacity to enable readiness across the fleet," Lanceta said. "We are committed to quality repairs to ensure the best possible support to the ground force commander. CCAD, partnered with the Research, Development and Engineering Center, deploys forward repair teams around the world with skilled mechanics, tools and experience."
In closing APBI, AMCOM deputy commander Bill Marriott thanked industry partners for attending, telling them "we need your help. We still need your partnerships. There will be plenty of opportunities. We encourage you to stay with us as partners because we need you. This nation couldn't do it without you and we wouldn't want to. We are all going in the same direction."
Social Sharing