PEO Perspective: January 2024

Happy New Year!

This is my final Perspective as PEO, as I retire and leave PEO EIS in the most capable hands. I have a few words to leave you with — but first, some important information to share with you as we jump into 2024:

ATARC PODCAST

On Jan. 10, Aric Sherwood, director of our Acquisition Innovation Directorate, was interviewed by the Advanced Technology Academic Research Center (ATARC) for a podcast sharing insights into our Agile acquisition transformation journey so far, with lessons learned and plans for future endeavors. The podcast is part of a series from ATARC that focuses on “Doing Tech Better in Government” and will broadcast on Spotify in late March 2024. The team will keep you posted on when and where to listen. Spotify is a new platform for us, and we expect this production about our Agile journey will reach a broad audience. Aric is a fount of knowledge on this subject, and this was a great opportunity to partner in telling our story.

AFCEA NOVA ARMY IT DAY

PEO EIS Chief Information Officer Mike Chappell was a panelist on the CIO Panel at the AFCEA NOVA Army IT Day Jan. 11, joining CIOs from the Army Corps of Engineers and the National Guard to discuss our Digital Modernization activities. More to come on those soon in a PEO EIS news story.

The sold-out event at the Hilton McLean Tysons Corner was Mike’s first speaking engagement for PEO EIS as CIO — we look forward to hearing more of his insights at future industry events!

AFCEA BELVOIR INDUSTRY DAYS

Planning for the annual AFCEA Belvoir Industry Days (ABID) has already begun, and the event is scheduled for May 13-15 at the Alexandria Hilton Mark Center Hotel. Be sure to visit our Events page for more information in coming months as ABID 2024 comes together!

LEADERSHIP ANNOUNCEMENT

The new PEO for EIS has been confirmed, and I am happy to announce that Bill Hepworth will assume the charter this month in a ceremony at the Pentagon’s Hall of Heroes.

Bill was selected to the deputy PEO position and the Senior Executive Service in December 2022, having joined us from industry. The past year-plus that I have served with Bill has been an enlightening experience, as he brings to the table an acumen for Agile and expert insight into industry practices that help us transform at the speed of need.

A FINAL NOTE

As I say farewell, I think back to 1989 when I started my civil service as a young engineer supporting countermine programs. Most of my day was spent standing by the copy machine making 50 or so copies of statements of work that I authored, and then putting them in envelopes and mailing them to stakeholders as part of the staffing process. We’ve come a long way in today’s Digital Age. Today, operations are at lightning speed, and although speed and efficiency have given us back countless hours, we still manage to fill them — and then some. I know this organization, and our IT industry in general, work harder than ever to get capability to our Soldiers. Just know that your hard work and dedication doesn’t go unnoticed, and I couldn’t be more proud of what you have accomplished in the last few years.

It’s really unprecedented if you think about it: a wholesale transformation across the portfolio, pivoting to Agile and delivering success story after success story. Organizing around Agile, redefining technical services, using the right contract vehicles and language, upskilling the workforce, prototyping against the right criteria, and partnering with functionals and industry with new expectations to deliver at speed.

Now we are off and running, setting the example across the community, like with the Integrated Personnel and Pay System – Army, Accessions Information Environment, Army Contract Writing System and ArmyIgnitED — all soon to be followed by the Army Training Information System, Global Force Information Management and Enterprise Business Systems – Convergence, among others.

PEO EIS has truly evolved into a world-class IT organization, and I’m humbled to say I was a part of your team.

Thank you to functional partners, like Lt. Gen. John Morrison, Mr. Robert Thurston, Ms. Megan Dake, Mr. Greg Youmans, Mr. David Paschal, Mr. Rick Ayer, Lt. Gen. Douglas Stitt, Ms. Terry Watson, Col. Rebecca Eggers, Col. Rebekah Lust, Brig. Gen. Steven Allen, Maj. Gen. Michael Lalor, Ms. Marion Whicker, Ms. Nikki Cabezas, Col. Julia Bell, Mr. Michael Formica, Mr. Don Johnson, Ms. Lori Mongold, Mr. Leo Garciga, Dr. David Markowitz, and so many more.

My sincere appreciation to our leadership team, past and present — Mr. Hepworth, Chief of Staff Mr. John Howell, Assistant PEO Mr. Rob Schadey, Acquisition Innovation Director Mr. Aric Sherwood, CIO Mr. Mike Chappell and the headquarters directors. Thank you also to our excellent project managers — Col. RJ Mikesh, Mr. Lee James, Mr. Brian Raftery, Mr. Kevin Curry, Mr. Reg Shuford, Col. Rob Wolfe, Col. Jay Shell, Mr. Sergio Alvarez, Col. Mark Taylor, Mr. Matt Russell, Mr. Brendan Burke, Mr. Darby McNulty, Mr. Wayne Sok, Lt. Col. Brandon Pye, Mr. John Crone, Maj. Melvin McDonald, Maj. Zach Schofield, and the entire headquarters staff. My thanks to the entire EIS workforce — you have truly made a difference in Soldiers’ lives. I have been blessed with the best.

A special thank you to Ms. Tara Clements, director of Strategic Communication, and the STRATCOMM team, who were instrumental in the transformation of the organization. Their outreach, the presence they established on social media, and the relationships they enabled with our industry partners are second to none — and they set the bar higher and higher every day. Thank you.

A final thanks to the front office — Ms. Jane Flowers, Mr. Marcus Collins and Ms. Debra Licata. I can’t say enough about how they have ensured that we are a well-oiled machine, keeping us ahead of the curve and dealing with my idiosyncrasies. Thank you for the support and patience over the years — I will cherish these memories for years to come.

As I pass the torch, I also owe thanks to my amazing mentors — Hon. Doug Bush, Hon. Gabe Camarillo, Hon. Heidi Shyu, Lt. Gen. (Ret.) Paul Ostrowski, Lt. Gen. Robert Marion, Lt. Gen. (Ret.) William Phillips, Mr. Daniel White, Mr. Young Bang, Dr. Bruce Jette, Mr. Scott Davis, Brig. Gen. James Moran, Maj. Gen. Tony Potts, Maj. Gen. Harry Greene, Mr. Dean Popps, Mr. Robin Swan, Mr. Levator Norsworthy, my predecessor Ms. Cherie Smith, and so many others. Thank you for shaping me to be the leader I am today.

Last, but not least, thank you to our industry partners, who have been amazing — stepping up to the call and delivering against industry best practices. The Army owes you a debt of gratitude.

This is farewell but not goodbye. Know that you are in the very best hands with Mr. Hepworth and the rest of the leadership team. It’s not how you start but how you finish — and you are not finished yet. The momentum is irreversible, and I can’t wait to watch the journey from the sidelines and see what you have planned next!

Remember, as a mentor of mine once said, there are no acquisition emergencies. Have perspective in all you do, treat people with love and kindness, be selfless in your actions, give 110 percent, understand your purpose, and always have fun.

It has been my great pleasure and honor to serve with you. 

God Bless!

Ross R. Guckert, Program Executive Officer

PEO EIS