ROCK ISLAND ARSENAL , Ill.-Scott Welker, deputy to the commander, Army Sustainment Command, Rock Island, Ill., was selected as a Presidential Rank Award Winner, the secretary of the Army has announced.
Welker was one of 14 receiving the award in the Meritorious Executives category.
"To say that I was shocked, would be an understatement," Welker said upon hearing the news in late December. "I had no idea that my accomplishments over the past several years were on par with the best SES [Senior Executive Service members] in the government."
Seven other Army personnel were awarded this distinction in the Distinguished Executives category, two others in the Distinguished Senior Professional category, and two in the Meritorious Senior Professional category.
"From my understanding, the Army had 25 Presidential Rank Award Winners this year and 11 of those were from AMC ... which says a lot about the great leadership we have across the Army Materiel Command," Welker said.
The Meritorious Executive rank is awarded to leaders for sustained accomplishments. Only 5 percent of SES career members may receive this award. The Distinguished Executive rank is awarded to leaders who achieve extraordinary results. Only 1 percent of the career SES may earn this award, Welker said.
In 2001, the rank award statute was amended to extend eligibility for these prestigious presidential awards to certain senior career employees who have a sustained record of exceptional professional, technical, or scientific achievement recognized on a national or international level. Beginning with awards granted in 2003, the president may confer the ranks of Distinguished Senior Professional and Meritorious Senior Professional on a select group of senior career employees in a manner similar to that for career members of the SES, he said.
The SES is a corps of federal executives appointed to key leadership positions just below the level of presidential appointees. The service began in 1978.
"I am so fortunate that my position allows me the opportunity to make a difference. Many of our folks have heard me say that you have to have fun in your job, you have to have the right attitude in your job, you have to have dedication to your work, and you have to do all of this with a tremendous respect for your workforce, Welker said.
"Couple that with a good understanding of the business you're in, and you'll be successful...that's essentially how I tackle each day...it's not about me...it's about this great Army that we support."
Welker has held his current position as deputy to the commanding general since October 2005 with the then-Army Field Support Command and subsequently ASC. Welker also served as the former command's chief of staff and as deputy chief of staff.
This was the first year (2009) he was eligible for consideration, Welker said. You must have at least three years of career or career-type Federal civilian service at the SES level.
"Through their personal conduct and results-oriented leadership, they have earned and kept a high degree of public confidence and trust," Welker said of SES members. "They have demonstrated their success in balancing the needs and perspectives of customers, stakeholders, and employees with organizational results."
Besides the actual award, those selected in the Meritorious Executive category receive a silver pin, a framed certificate signed by the president, and monetary award. As deputy, Welker leads and directs the ASC's global logistics mission, which encompasses a workforce of approximately 500 military personnel, 2,200 civilian employees, and 60,000 contractor employees.
The command's core missions include Army Materiel Command's integrator of field operations, Army Prepositioned Stocks, and the Logistics Civil Augmentation Program (LOGCAP). Executives from across government are nominated by their agency heads, evaluated by citizen panels, and designated by the president.
Welker's nomination noted: "He was instrumental in implementing and establishing the Army's Prepositioned Stocks program and was instrumental in building the Command responsible to execute this global mission from the ground floor. Further, Mr. Welker was the driving force in establishing the Army Sustainment Command with a focused mission of providing Army Force Generation (ARFORGEN) logistical support to the Army's Combat and Combat Support force structure. He planned, established, and executed a number of critical Army-directed programs including field-level reset synchronization, Left-Behind Equipment, Pre-Deployment Training Equipment, the Logistics Civil Augmentation Program (LOGCAP), and establishment of a materiel management capability for Continental United States (CONUS) forces in support of Army transformation."
Welker began his federal career as an ammunition management intern beginning in late 1983 at the U.S. Army Defense Ammunition Center and School at Savanna Army Depot, Savanna, Ill. After graduating from the intern program, he was assigned to Rock Island as an ammunition inventory management specialist working as an item manager in medium caliber ammunition in one of ASC's predecessor commands -- the Armament, Munitions, and Chemical Command (AMCCOM).
During the mid-90s, Welker served as a logistics management specialist in the Business Management Directorate. Born in Louisville, Ky., Welker's family moved to Washington when he was a child. He still has strong family ties to Washington.
Welker holds a bachelor of arts degree in business and economics from Washington State University, and a master of business administration degree from St. Ambrose University, Davenport, Iowa.
Welker's leadership philosophy in a nutshell -- "I call it random thoughts of what a leader should do, be, and provide to our workforce: Aca,!Ac Build Trust and Confidence Aca,!Ac Lead by Example Aca,!Ac Appearance Aca,!Ac Performance Aca,!Ac Conduct Aca,!Ac Be Approachable Aca,!Ac Attitude -- Only two choices -- Motivate and Build Respect Aca,!Ac Caring & Passion -- About what you do and why we do it; about the people you lead; show consistency and fairness; exhibit strong moral character; be supportive; teamwork, mission and accomplishment; ask questions; Balance - Balance - Balance! (This one is important...balance between work, family and self."
For queries, contact the Army Sustainment Command Public Affairs Office at rock-amsas-pa@conus.army.mil or by phone at 309-782-5421.
For current ASC news, go to <a href="http://www.aschq.army.mil">www.aschq.army.mil</a>.
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