AMEDD Civilian Corps Chief SES Speaks at USAMITC Commander’s Call

By Kenneth Blair Hogue, USAMITC Public AffairsJuly 21, 2011

AMEDD Civilian Corps
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FORT SAM HOUSTON, TEXAS " Army Medical Department (AMEDD) Civilian Corps Chief Gregg Stevens, Senior Executive Service (SES), spoke at a recent U.S. Army Medical Information Technology Center (USAMITC) Commander’s Call, held at the Blesse Auditorium on Fort Sam Houston.

The Commander’s Call started with a video introduction, opening remarks and a command update by USAMITC’s Commander, Lt. Col. Beverly Beavers.

The Commander introduced Stevens, who in turn followed as the guest speaker. He spoke about AMEDD Civilian Corps issues addressing some of the planned developmental career paths that will impact our future civilian workforce. He first went over an Army Strategy Map, and then talked about the Army Civilian Corps Creed: the importance of it and what it meant to him. “I really like the Army Civilian Corps Creed,” said Stevens. Being a member of the Army Team is referenced in the creed, and Stevens used an NBA analogy to point out how “the chemistry in teamwork is really important.”

Stevens continued with more about what the oath meant to him. “When I took an oath as a civilian, it brought me to tears. It was just like the Military oath without the UCMJ (Uniformed Code of Military Justice) references.”

Stevens later touched on the differences between Military, “pure” civilians and “hybrids;” with Military being active duty, “pure” civilians being personnel who’ve never had any Military experience and “hybrids” being personnel who were prior Military, now working in a Civil Service capacity. He elaborated quite a bit on the concept and dynamic of all three groups working together as a team toward a common goal. But Stevens cautioned against generalizing in any civilian work situation, citing a quote from Mark Twain, “No generalization is worth a damn, including this one.”

Stevens then spent some time talking about the target of the Army Medical Department (AMEDD). “The AMEDD provides a training ground for when we go to war,” he said, adding that the real mission of Army Medicine is the readiness mission, and that the goal of Army Medicine is what happens on the battlefield. “A combat medic looking over and taking care of a patient, that’s the target of Army Medicine,” he stated.

He then spent some time discussing Army perspectives on the Civilian Corps, pointing out that civilians are hired for “functionality and continuity,” and that more civilians are in leadership positions than before. “Pay attention to what’s happening in the next two years, because it’s coming; the training of civilians to be leaders,” he said. There’s a teamwork dynamic between Military and civilians. “We’re all in this together,” he added.

Stevens later touched on what he called some “Random Thoughts.” Specifically, some thoughts on civilian to Military Occupational Specialty training opportunities, civilian life long learning opportunities, developmental opportunities, consultant opportunities, position competencies, increased communication, web site content and the “AMEDD Civilian Corps Balanced Scorecard,” where Stevens talked about the Civilian Corps’ mission statement, vision statement and strategic themes.

In his conclusion, Stevens emphasized that “It’s all about attitude,” and that in regard to civilian careers, “You have a choice.” He ended his presentation by using an Old-West analogy, by saying, “We’ll be much better off if we all saddle up and ride off together.”

Later, and on behalf of USAMITC, Lt. Col. Beavers presented Stevens a commander’s coin.

Gregg Stevens spent 43 years with the Department of the Army: nearly 30 years as a commissioned active duty Army officer, then as a contractor and later as a Civil Service civilian. He became the AMEDD Civilian Corps Chief on Nov. 12, 2009. He’s also the deputy to the commanding general, Army Medical Department Center and School, at Fort Sam Houston, Texas. From December 2005 until assuming his current position, he served as the assistant chief of staff for the Center and School. Before that, he served for three years as the deputy chief, Leader Training Center and the program director for the Army Medical Department Executive Skills Program.

In regard to his Military career, Gregg Stevens received his commission as a regular medical service corps Army officer through the Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) when he graduated from Providence College in 1968. He has a Master’s Degree in Health Care Administration from the U.S. Army Baylor Program. His Military education includes the Army Medical Department Officer Basic and Advanced Courses, the Medical Logistics Officer Course, the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College and the U.S. Army War College.