VIEW ORIGINAL
ABERDEEN PROVING GROUND, Md. —Twenty-three civilians from across Aberdeen Proving Ground and the U.S. Army Communications-Electronics Command graduated from a nine-month leadership program, Practical Introduction to Supervising Employees V, during a ceremony at the Mallette Training Facility Dec. 12, 2024.
PRISE is a CECOM program designed to develop supervisory skills of GS-13 equivalent employees. PRISE aims to equip its participants with the practical experiences, knowledge, and skills that a new supervisor needs to be successful.
PRISE V consisted of seven two-day resident sessions and five lunch-and-learns over a period of nine months. In between sessions, participants returned to their workplaces to utilize new skills and reflect on the concepts and competencies they studied during the resident sessions. During PRISE V each participant shadowed a senior-level employee and was mentored by a coach.
Leading with courage
CECOM Command Sgt. Maj. Michael Conaty, who has served in the Army for 33 years, was one of the event’s guest speakers. According to Conaty, self-awareness is the foundation of effective leadership. You need to know your strengths, weaknesses, and the impact you have on others. Leadership is a journey of self-discovery, he added.
“It is not enough to execute tasks; we must bring our full, authentic selves to work every day,” he said. “That means leading with courage and fostering an environment where others can do the same. Becoming a leader is not about adopting someone else’s style or strategies. It is about being the fullest, most authentic version of yourself.”
Guest speaker Christopher Barrett, the executive director of the U.S. Army Evaluation Center and a Senior Executive Service member, thanked the graduates for their interest in being a government leader. He challenged PRISE graduates to build on what they learned and to continue the network they formed in PRISE. Additionally, he encouraged the PRISE graduates to map out the next five to ten years with the help of a mentor or coach and consider taking developmental assignments.
Impact of PRISE V
The ceremony featured impact statements from each of the graduates, which was a course requirement. Many graduates shared what they learned during PRISE V and how it helped them navigate challenges at work and home. They thanked their family members, supervisors, and colleagues who supported them while they were enrolled in this leadership training program.
Rafael Figueroa Jr., with the CECOM Integrated Logistics Support Center, said during PRISE he reflected on how managers can inspire team members. He said that part of the course focuses on communication and interpersonal skills.
“[Communication] is not just about speaking clearly or well-written emails; it is about fostering an environment where open dialogue thrives,” Figueroa said. “It is about listening, truly listening, to our team members and understanding their perspectives and valuing their contributions. As aspiring supervisors, we must remember that our words have power and how we communicate can either build bridges or create barriers.”
CECOM G1 Talent Management Division Chief Maria Layton congratulated the PRISE V class for achieving this milestone.
“Supervisor roles are not just about managing tasks, they are about shaping environments where people thrive,” she said. “You have shown you are ready to take on this responsibility with the confidence and character that will define the leaders of tomorrow.”
PRISE VI kicked off on Dec. 17, 2024. For more information about PRISE VII, contact PRISE Program Lead Pamela Hanas, pamela.s.hanas.civ@army.mil.
PRISE V graduates
Carissa Bannon, U.S. Army Program Executive Office – Intelligence, Electronic Warfare & Sensors
Christopher D’Amario, U.S. Army Test and Evaluation Command Aberdeen Test Center
Jonathan Grzeika, U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command
Chemical Biological Center
Jill Iracki, DEVCOM Analysis Center
Robert Kaiser, ATEC Army Evaluation Center
Wyatt McNutt, DEVCOM CBC
Michele Pedoto, DEVCOM Command, Control, Communications, Computers, Cyber, Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Center
David Plakosh, Program Executive Office Command, Control, Communications, and Network
Anthony Rasa, PEO C3N
Todd Skamanich, PEO IEWS
Michael Aiello, CECOM Tobyhanna Army Depot
Christopher Barker, CECOM G6
Rafael Figueroa Jr., CECOM Integrated Logistics Support Center
Wanda Herrans-Bloise, CECOM Software Engineering Center
Winnifred Hull, CECOM G6
Zuhara Martell, CECOM Office of Acquisition Services
Michael Milillo, CECOM ILSC
Patrick Morgan, CECOM SEC
Derrick Rice, CECOM TYAD
Miguel Salles III, CECOM ILSC
Tara Singleton, CECOM G8
Vincent Wong, CECOM Information Systems Engineering Command
Shaun Young, CECOM TYAD
Social Sharing