REDSTONE ARSENAL, Ala -- Around 20 sustainment general officers gathered in person at Army Materiel Command Headquarters and virtually via video teleconference July 30 to discuss how to best posture the enterprise to continue to provide strategic and tactical readiness to warfighters.
Hosted by AMC Commander Gen. Ed Daly, who in his role, also serves as the Army’s senior sustainer, the Army Sustainment Leader Summit focused on three areas: talent management, linking the sustainment enterprise to Army priorities, and mentorship opportunities.
Emphasizing the Chief of Staff of the Army’s talent management strategy, Daly said having the right talent in the right positions is essential.
“Talent management is the most important thing we do as an Army,” he said. “We must manage talent correctly at all echelons.”
This includes providing predictability throughout an officer’s career, coaching and mentoring, and offering professional development assignments and opportunities, Daly said.
During the summit, leaders engaged in candid and open conversations about the sustainment enterprise and looked holistically across the Army and Joint Force to identify strengths and gaps.
ASLS was conceived and started four years ago by former AMC Commander Gen. Gus Perna to ensure senior leaders across the enterprise took time to prioritize talent management.
“ASLS has become the gold standard for talent management across the Army,” said Daly.
Those sentiments were echoed by Gen. Stephen Lyons, commander of U.S. Transportation Command, who, alongside Perna, provided an Officer Professional Development session to the leaders in attendance.
“This enterprise has great credibility across the joint force,” Lyons said. “Every one of you would sacrifice yourself and your time for your people. The most important thing you will have done is shaping future leaders.”
Recognizing that this is the first time in history that the Army has had three active duty 4-star logisticians at the same time, Perna also spoke to the group about the importance of talent management.
“The power of this forum is everyone in this room together. This is one team serving one purpose – what’s best for the Army,” Perna said. “We are managing talent to achieve a purpose.”
As both Lyons and Perna prepare to retire this summer, both leaders encouraged those who will follow them to continue to prioritize talent management.
“The best thing about what we do is the people we get to do it with,” Perna said. “Your influence is huge. People – the next generation – is what we should take pride in.”
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