REDSTONE ARSENAL, Ala. -- United States Army Security Assistance Command logistics management specialist Elsa Stuart is passionate about two things. She loves anything that has to do with logistics, and she enjoys taking care of people.
As a country program manager in the Central Command regional directorate, it is a combination of these two loves that drive her on a daily basis to ensure the successful planning, development and implementation of customer service functions for end users as a result of approved military sales to foreign countries.
A country program manager since 1994, Stuart's logistical and customer service background goes back to 1976 when she enlisted in the Army Reserves as a material control and accounting specialist. Over the years, both in and out of uniform, she has worked in the logistics field supporting international partners in Germany, Bosnia, Qatar and Afghanistan.
"I like this job because it's diverse," Stuart said. "Interacting with people from other cultures, and the idea of helping other countries get the right equipment and logistical service at the right place and time is a great feeling of accomplishment to me."
Even after the U.S. government approves the sale of equipment and material to foreign countries, facilitating the actual transaction can pose its own challenges. Along with the more common issues to work through, such as linguistic and cultural differences, different levels or technology between the vender and customer can add additional problems. Stuart said whatever problems or issues arise in completing a transaction, she prides herself in being able to work with both venders and buyers to make sure the products make it to the customers in a timely manner.
"Once I worked with a country that had to complete an order manually because it lacked the IT infrastructure to input supply requests electronically," Stuart said. And since the chosen vendor worked strictly through an automated system, it took teamwork, creativity and hard work to get this order filled. We worked with the vendor, and technical experts were eventually able to tweak the automated system enough that it would accept paper requisition forms. It was a challenge, said Stuart, but everybody worked together to help them get their stuff. "
On active duty from 2007-2009, Stuart worked in Afghanistan supporting the Security Assistance Office. So when she returned to civilian life and was offered the opportunity to become a country program manager for the United Arab Emirates (UAE), she felt she was the perfect fit for the job.
"This this the first time I've had to work with Middle Eastern clients in this capacity as a civilian," Stuart said. But my past experience working in the Middle East, and culturally, being exposed (to Middle Eastern Customs) in previous jobs have prepared me to comfortably interact with UAE customers."
Working with a clear understanding of the differences in culture and business practices, Stuart has developed a strong relationship with her UAE counterparts. And as "The Army's face to the world", it's not just the USASAC leadership that deals with the general public and international customers on a daily basis. Every program manager has some kind of end-user. As a program manager working with the UAE, Stuart uses her love of logistics and a customer-focused approach to make a lasting impression on her clients while developing successful relationships.
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