ABERDEEN PROVING GROUND, MD- The Software Engineering Center briefed stakeholders and industry partners to kick off the Advanced Planning Briefing to Industry on post April 25.
APBI is an annual event that allows APG units to share future work requirements, contract forecasting, and other pertinent information.
SEC Director Garrett Shoemaker said the goal of his presentation was to inform the audience that the soldier is at the center of every decision SEC makes.
“Our priority is the soldier,” Shoemaker said. “Everything we’re doing at SEC, all the investments we’re making, is for our user base. We want to make sure we’re delivering operationally ready, cyber-secure software in a timely manner.”
SEC is a unit within Communication-Electronics Command that specializes in software development and integration. The SEC portfolio is wide ranging. The organization is an Army leader in the use of Development, Security, and Operations (DevSecOps) and Continuous Integration/Continuous Delivery (CI/CD) to develop software for end users while providing maintenance and sustainment support to Army units around the world. APBI provides an opportunity to collaborate by creating a space where industry can learn directly from SEC leaders.
Shoemaker said APBI provides a unique opportunity for SEC leaders to communicate directly with private companies.
“We’re able to grow current partnerships while building new ones,” said Shoemaker. “Our mission here at SEC is to deliver readiness and we need to be able to work with industry to succeed.”
In addition to Shoemaker, SEC Public-Private Partnership (P3) Acquisition and Business Manager Andrea Armstrong briefed potential partners, focusing on opportunities for private companies to collaborate directly with SEC.
P3 is a program through which private industry and SEC can enter into agreements using various types of partnerships. SEC’s ability to enter P3 agreements originates from the organization’s selection as a Center for Industrial and Technical Excellence. CITE, as it is commonly called, is a Department of the Army designation that identifies a depot-level or arsenal activity’s leadership and expertise within their core competencies.
Armstrong underscored the different types of partnerships SEC can enter with industry. This adaptable approach allows new relationships without a one-size-fits-all approach.
Shoemaker noted how crucial relationships are in delivering capabilities to the soldier.
“We have a lot of organic capability, but in order to be successful, it’s important to have the expertise, manpower and resources of our industry partners,” Shoemaker said. “It’s really important to have events like this so that we can initiate those partnerships and take advantage of what our partners offer.”
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