Brig. Gen. William Boruff, assumed his new role as Joint Program Executive Officer Armaments and Ammunition and Picatinny Arsenal Commanding General as Brig. Gen. Vincent F. Malone II relinquished his authority and responsibilities to his successor in a change of charter ceremony July 23.
Douglas R. Bush, Acting Assistant Secretary of the Army for Acquisition, Logistics and Technology, presided over the ceremony.
The ceremony included a symbolic transfer of authority from one program executive officer to another by the passing of the JPEO A&A flag. Chris Grassano, deputy JPEO A&A passed the flag to Malone. Symbolic of the successful completion of his duties, Malone passed the flag to Douglas. The transfer symbolizes the JPEO legacy being passed as a building block for future performance and achievement. By accepting the flag, the incoming JPEO, Boruff, assumed responsibility for the JPEO A&A. Boruff then passed the flag to Grassano, who symbolized the technical expertise of the personnel within the organization.
As the JPEO, Boruff was charged with utilizing the family of systems concept to ensure integration and interoperability are achieved between U.S. Army programs to support a full spectrum force. He will provide overall direction and guidance for the development acquisition testing product development and fielding, while ensuring total ownership cost reduction; place primary management emphasis and oversight on balancing cost schedule performance and supportability while capitalizing on acquisition reform initiatives; lead and directly control assigned program managers; and ensure that acquisition workforce career development and competency standards are actively pursued.
Boruff thanked senior officials for their trust and confidence in allowing him to take over as the leader of JPEO A&A.
“It's truly an honor for Linda and I to serve here with you, with Team Picatinny, and we hope to continue to do things well and work towards better as we go forward,” he said. “I want to thank Brigadier General Vince and Carol Malone for their wonderful support to the JPEO and the Picatinny community during their tenure. We look forward to serving the Picatinny community together and the JPEO as we move forward in our endeavors.”
Previously, Boruff was the Special Assistant to the Military Deputy/Director, Army Acquisition Corps, Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Army (Acquisition, Logistics and Technology) in Washington, D.C. Prior to that, he served as the Deputy Commanding General of the Combined Security Transition Command – Afghanistan in Kabul, Afghanistan. He commissioned as a second lieutenant in Field Artillery from the ROTC program at the University of North Carolina at Pembroke, N.C., where he received a Bachelor of Science in Accounting as a distinguished military graduate. He joined the Army Acquisition Corps in 1995. His advanced education includes a Master of Science in Acquisition and Contract Management, Florida Institute of Technology, Melbourne, Florida. His military education includes a Master of Science in Strategic Studies from the U.S. Army War College; Air Command and Staff College; Transportation Corps Advance Course; Multiple Launch Rocket System Cadre Course; and Field Artillery Basic Course.
He’s held numerous command and staff positions. His assignments include contingency contracting officer, XVIII Airborne Corps, Fort Bragg, N.C.; assignments officer, Acquisition Management Branch, U.S. Army Human Resources Command, Alexandria, Virginia; executive officer to the Director, U.S. Army Acquisition Support Center, Fort Belvoir, Virginia; proponency officer, Army Acquisition Executive Support Agency, Pentagon; commander, Defense Contract Management Agency-Northern Iraq; commander, Defense Contract Management Agency, Combat Vehicles BAE Systems, York, Pennsylvania; deputy director, USAASC; project manager, Transportation Systems; director, Contracting Enabler Cell, Combined Security Transition Command Afghanistan; and Commanding General of the Mission and Installation Contracting Command, Fort Sam Houston, Texas.
During his speech, Bush welcomed Boruff and bid farewell to Malone.
He described a number of Malone’s accomplishments since graduating the U.S. Military Academy at West Point in 1989. Malone became the JPEO A&A and the Commanding General of Picatinny Arsenal in May 2020.
“Most recently, working with Team Picatinny, Vince charted the course through the toughest stages of the COVID-19 pandemic, enabling mission accomplishment, while ensuring health safety and well-being of the residents of the Arsenal in the workforce,” Bush said. “His skillful and frequent communications resulted in nearly 60 percent of the installations team, as of today, becoming fully vaccinated.”
Malone’s accomplishments as the JPEO A&A included leading a workforce of more than 600 professionals and executing an annual budget in excess of $4 billion with a portfolio that includes more than 500 products for the Joint Force.
“In addition, the JPEO support to allies and partners is significant, currently having 190 open cases and delivering a variety of weapon systems to 67 countries, with a total value in excess of $1.5 billion,” Bush said. “All of those allies and partners we support, that's part of our role in leading democracies across the world.”
Under his leadership, Malone also had a major role in successfully advancing the Army's extended range cannon artillery program, one of the top modernization priorities.
“Your outstanding leadership and lasting contributions to our Army, our sister services and the Navy are exemplary,” Bush said. “Your service has been truly extraordinary and your legacy is lasting.”
“It's now Bill's responsibility to continue this work and build on these achievements,” Bush said. “His most recent service at the Pentagon has given us an opportunity to work together on a number of priority issues. His top level knowledge in contracting and acquisition coupled with his valuable experience from overseas deployments, will enable him to continue the JPEO’s tradition of strong and effective leadership.”
Malone was awarded the Distinguished Service Medal for his exceptionally meritorious service to the government in duties of great responsibility over a 32-year career. The citation stated that in a multitude of key leadership assignments that encapsulate a distinguished military career, Malone excelled in all duties, exhibiting innovative leadership, management, technical, and programmatic competence. His exceptional leadership, expert acquisition acumen and uncompromising integrity led the vast Ammunition Enterprise workforce to modernize in the face of diverse and challenging emerging threats while successfully meeting urgent operational needs of joint and coalition forces deployed to combat theaters around the world. Malone has been an exceptional steward of the nation’s resources and, through his leadership and creativity, inspired and championed management innovations that maximized the efficiency and impact of Army Acquisitions regardless of the constraints.
“It's been incredible and memorable journey,” Malone said. “I thank the Army for the opportunity to lead the finest Soldiers and civilians in the world and experience so much of this great country along the way.”
His closing remarks were, “It is my privilege and honor to end my career as part of this great team, Team Picatinny. Army Strong.”
The JPEO A&A, formerly known as the Program Executive Office Ammunition, is committed to providing superior ammunition to the Soldier. The JPEO is responsible for life-cycle acquisition management of all conventional ammunition, which includes integrating budgets, acquisition strategies, research and development and life-cycle management across all ammunition families. Its mission is to develop, procure and field lethal armaments and ammunition providing Joint Warfighters and Allied Partners overmatch capabilities.
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