The Security Assistance Command hosted an Army Materiel Command Security Assistance Enterprise Senior Leader Forum Sept. 27-28. The forum, led by USASAC Commander Brig. Gen. Brad Nicholson, focused on the “State of the AMC SAE,” and included remarks from AMC’s Commander Gen. Charles Hamilton.
Calling USASAC the center of gravity for security assistance, Hamilton addressed the future and the challenges for the security assistance enterprise. Hamilton called the current status of the enterprise “a victim of its own success,” with expectations of security assistance and foreign military sales being “faster” since the Ukraine-Russia conflict began and deliveries were expedited.
Hamilton predicted the challenge would be changing or reorganizing to become more efficient and continuing to evolve. But he also noted that the enterprise possesses a “’team of teams’ of great professionals, that would continue to help the Army ‘set the theater’ by continuing to do what you are currently doing. FMS is keeping and revitalizing the supply chains by building ally and partner capacity.”
Hamilton concluded by addressing the necessity of precision sustainment, an AMC priority, at the point of contact.
“Allies and partners have a role too,” he said. He also emphasized that he is a champion and advocate for industry capacity where it is applicable, an issue with increased prominence as requirements increase from Ukraine and other allies and partners.
The increasing pace and the priorities of foreign military sales cases and resourcing were the primary issues that the more than 45 senior leaders raised and made recommendations for. During the two-day event leaders broke out into six groups that included USASAC directors, deputies and branch chiefs; USASAC subordinate organization program managers and commanders; USASAC country program managers-forward assigned to the Geographic Combatant Command and the Army Service Component Commands; and AMC life-cycle management commands’ security assistance management directors.
Resourcing was also addressed by USASAC’s G-8, Resource Management Directorate during presentations about the USASAC headquarters Management Engineering Workload Study, the Financial Common Operating Picture Update and the Fiscal Year 2026 Security Assistance and Program and Budget Review.
Nicholson emphasized that any reorganization or changes resulting from the workload study would be transparent and he provided all USASAC employees with a link to view the results and the four recommendations made in the workload study report. He also noted that the workload study would “change our organization – people or billets will move,” based on the data gathered to align positions to funded levels. And in closing, Nicholson added that there would be adjustments, but he would “do it deliberately” after considering all input.
Myra Gray, USASAC deputy to the commanding general, echoed his sentiments when she stated it would be in a methodical manner, but would need to be done quickly.
The courses of action for USASAC’s security assistance operations were also briefed. The intent of the Security Assistance Operations Integrated Process Team was to develop the methodology to better synchronize and integrate security assistance and foreign military sales operations, along with security assistance (operations) training, to better meet leader information requirements.
Nicholson’s final comments also focused on the “so what” of the mission – which, he said, should be the driving force for everything the SAE does.
He thanked all leaders for taking the time to attend, with plans for the next AMC Senior Leader Forum in spring 2024.
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