JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-FORT SAM HOUSTON, Texas (May 24, 2021) -- It has been an honor and the highlight of my 30-year career to be the commanding general for the Mission and Installation Contracting Command. Our command has faced unique challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic, yet we continued our mission with unity of effort and economy of force!
Our committed force of teleworking employees showcased the entire team’s ability to adapt and overcome any obstacle, and for that, I am truly grateful. I would be remiss to not acknowledge the mission critical employees who at the height of the pandemic, day in and day out, physically worked in our offices across the command to ensure our mission success would continue. These dedicated teammates assumed a higher degree of personal risk to keep our organization rowing toward the MICC priorities. I’m honored to say that we never failed to deliver decisive and synchronized business solutions to our mission partners!
Our mission was accomplished due to the unwavering dedication and talent of each Soldier and Army Civilian of Team MICC. Each one of you is an integral part of the total team, and together, we care for one another. We strive for excellence, which requires support from each other.
The past two years have been very trying for the families of Team MICC, and all of the leaders at every echelon honored and embraced People First through caring for the needs of their teammates! All of our employees gather their drive and desire not merely through writing contracts, but through our mission and calling to provide the essential services and supplies our Soldiers and their families rely upon to fight and win our nation’s wars.
Over the past 20 months, team MICC has provided contracting support not only in Afghanistan and other areas of responsibility but also to our homeland. So many of Team MICC were instrumental in the monumental support to provide initial humanitarian support to Army North and the Northern Command at the onset of the coronavirus pandemic. Our team contributed to this fight through the development and distribution of the vaccine, which in turn, has aided all Americans. This lifesaving support is a testament to the quiet professionals in our organization who honorably, and without the need for recognition, provided necessary support on a daily basis. I could not be more proud of how all MICC employees balanced the mission while also prioritizing our human capital, honoring our people as the greatest asset! In short, teammates were taking care of teammates, which enabled our mission to succeed during trying times. Your efforts ensured our mission partners could accomplish their missions, and your consistent reaching out and care made the difference to our Soldiers and the nation.
Team MICC understood that our relevance is tied to continuous liaison with our mission partners to ensure they have what they need to accomplish their missions. We have built closer ties with our largest mission partner – Installation Management Command – and integrated our acquisition processes so everyone understands the criticality of acquisition support to mission success. Together, we trained IMCOM staffs and through an internal review process, we de-conflicted efforts as we targeted unnecessary or duplicative contract requirements that achieved cost savings and cost avoidance. To further deliver acquisition excellence, we have established installation readiness centers to provide more effective and efficient contract support that enhances readiness through new and follow-on contract awards. The forged strategic relationships Team MICC now has with our mission partners is vital to delivering at the speed of relevance. All of Team MICC understands that we win when we deliver the contracting support our mission partners need to sustain Soldiers, their families and our great Army Civilians.
The performance of Team MICC has been nothing short of remarkable. While obligating every penny possible for our mission partners, we successfully and brilliantly closed out two impressive fiscal years. In addition, our small business professionals met all five of its small-business socioeconomic goals in fiscal 2020 for the sixth consecutive year with almost half of our obligated dollars going to American small businesses that bolsters the U.S. economy. We initiated a strategic human capital program, called All Things People, which ensures an equitable and inclusive environment that empowers Team MICC’s diverse workforce. Our strategic human capital program delivered tangible results on a myriad of platforms such as leadership professional development, hiring initiatives, talent management, suicide awareness, flexible work schedules, employee feedback opportunities, equal employment opportunities, and the elimination of extremism, sexual assault and sexual harassment. Team MICC has developed a more efficient organization and is better prepared to meet tomorrow's unique challenges and increasing demands for acquisition support. At every location and from every functional specialty, the women and men of team MICC deliver the products, services and program support that ensure our Army is ready and our Soldiers have everything they need to fight and win.
Your ability to deliver the right services, at the right time, at the right cost for our mission partners is what takes our command to new heights. Your embracement of our priorities of people, process and performance contributes directly to Army readiness and has enhanced our reputation across the Army enterprise.
I would be remiss if I didn’t thank the amazing team of professionals who supported me every day at the headquarters. Clay Cole is a phenomenal leader with a laser focus on the acquisition mission while truly caring for the people. Command Sgt. Maj. Chantel Sena-Diaz has been a wonderful teammate with incredible compassion for our Soldiers and Army Civilians and keen insight into the needs of each team member. I have been blessed to have these two wonderful leaders working alongside me every day as they have made me an even better leader. And the extremely competent front office and headquarters staff who not only did a phenomenal job managing my priorities but also provided amazing support to all our team members in the field. The MICC has also had the great fortune of a strong cadre of senior contracting officials and principal deputies leading our subordinate teams. You all have made Team MICC a beacon of excellence.
In closing, I ask that you give Brig. Gen. Doug Lowrey the same level of support and dedication that you gave me. Under his leadership, I am confident Team MICC will reach even greater heights as the acquisition partner of choice.
I sincerely thank each member of Team MICC for all you do to support our Soldiers, our Army, and our nation.
People First! Winning Matters! Contracting for Soldiers … With Honor!
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