PEO Perspective: May 2020

This is my final Perspective as PEO for this organization as I retire and hand over the reins to the next PEO. In this last issue, I have a lot of important information to share with you. Please bear with me; this is going to be lengthy!

COVID-19 CORONAVIRUS UPDATE
We are living in extraordinary times. Throughout history, challenging times like these have truly displayed the courage and tenacity of the American people. Not all heroes wear a uniform (although some of my favorites do), and COVID-19 has allowed us to more deeply appreciate the unsung heroes among us – the healthcare professionals, farmers, restaurant and grocery store workers, custodians, teachers, postal workers and delivery drivers, and all of the other critical workers who are keeping America going, and helping to keep us safe.

As the Army continues to provide military manpower, IT and equipment to help combat COVID-19 around the world, PEO EIS is on the front lines of these efforts. Last month I shared with you stories about how Army Vantage is developing a data analytics platform prototype, and Medical Communications for Combat Casualty Care (MC4) is on the ground at the Javits Center in Manhattan, on the USNS Comfort in New York harbor, and in Seattle, with equipment and training for managing patient care.

MEDICAL COMMUNICATIONS FOR COMBAT CASUALTY CARE (MC4)
This month, MC4 continues in the fight against COVID-19 with the Army’s Health Assessment Lite Operations (HALO) application, which they recently deployed to medical personnel battling the pandemic. HALO is a digitized version of the Standard Form 600 used by DOD medical personnel to document patient treatment for wounded, injured or sick patients, and was first deployed at the US-NATO Hospital in Kabul, Afghanistan, then worldwide by March of this year. While designed primarily for documenting outpatient treatment at Role 1 battalion aid stations and Role 2 military treatment facilities, this simpler, lighter software supporting electronic health records is already making a huge difference in assessing, documenting and addressing patient needs during the current pandemic.

AUTOMATED MOVEMENT AND IDENTIFICATION SOLUTIONS (AMIS)
In order to plan and execute unit movements and coordinate transportation requests throughout the world, the DOD relies on the essential services provided in the AMIS Transportation Coordinators’ Automated Identifications Movement Solutions II (TC-AIMS II) application Unit Move module. From roughly March 23 to April 7, AMIS also supported 34 convoys moving in response to COVID-19 relief efforts, including deployment of the 9th Hospital Center from Fort Hood, Texas, to Fort Dix, New Jersey. The hospital operations convoy used AMIS for well-planned access routes and full convoy tracking of the attached personnel, equipment and supplies. The result was the accurate delivery of a full-service hospital with 240 beds and 300 personnel to one of the areas hardest hit by the pandemic. AMIS transportation applications are supporting essential missions around the world, and its tracking modules are doing the important work of assisting COVID-19 care teams and first responders on all fronts.

GENERAL FUND ENTERPRISE BUSINESS SYSTEM – SENSITIVE ACTIVITIES (GFEBS-SA)
The mission doesn’t stop for a pandemic. GFEBS-SA fielded and went “live” with the classified version of the Army’s accounting, financial management and auditability software system to about 100 initial users at the National Ground Intelligence Center (NGIC). This solution provides security for extremely sensitive business transactions while also supporting the Army’s goal of improving financial processes, controls and information via audit readiness.

UPCOMING ENGAGEMENTS
The annual AFCEA Belvoir Industry Days has been rescheduled for November 16-18, still at the Gaylord National Harbor. I am disappointed not to be able to see you all at this event as we had originally planned, but I know that Mr. Burke and the leadership team will represent PEO EIS well. My sincere thanks to AFCEA Belvoir for making the right choice to postpone this important event until we can gather safely.

LEADERSHIP ANNOUNCEMENT
Since it is official now we can share the news with you.

The new PEO has been confirmed, and I am happy to announce Mr. Ross Guckert will assume the charter in May when I say farewell.

Prior to his role with Soldier, Ross served as the Deputy PEO Combat Support and Combat Service Support (PEO CS&CSS) and the Acting Deputy for PEO Aviation, and he has worked in the building in various capacities, including as the Assistant Deputy for Acquisition and Systems Management (DASM) -- so he brings a wealth of acquisition management experience to our organization.

More than that, Ross brings strong leadership and judgment, a keen understanding of our environment and challenges, and a commitment to the goal of modernizing the network, connecting our Army, and serving Soldiers.

A FINAL NOTE
I know many of you may have heard me say this over the years, but it’s absolutely true – this has been my dream job. It is the culmination of a career that I could have only dreamed of back in 1977 when I made the decision to go Army. PEO EIS has been my home, and the workforce my family, so the hands in which I leave the team is of great importance to me.

For every leader, there are strong role models, mentors, and colleagues who help them achieve their success and I have been blessed throughout my career with all three.

It all started with my dad, a World War II veteran whose legacy of service made an early impression on me. Dad showed me that anything was possible through hard work and dedication to always doing my best. He was my first hero, and always will be.

My career closes with a heartfelt thank you to my boss and mentor, Principal Military Deputy to the Assistant Secretary of the Army (Acquisition, Logistics and Technology) and Director of the Army Acquisition Corps, Lt. Gen. Paul Ostrowski, who has guided me through various stages of my career and increasing responsibilities with tough challenges that helped me grow and become a better leader and a better person. Lt. Gen. Ostrowski retired late last month, and his clear-eyed leadership, compassion and ability to push the Acquisition Corps to greater heights will be missed.

I also owe my great thanks to Army Acquisition Executive Dr. Bruce Jette, who has had the enormously important task of streamlining and reorganizing the PEOs to more readily align with the Army’s priorities. He is a trailblazer and an innovator who has instituted fundamental cultural change in the Acquisition Corps. In my time serving under Dr. Jette I have been challenged like never before in ways that have strengthened our organization, allowing us to meet and exceed the goals within our primary lines of effort, including stakeholder and talent management.

I also want to thank Gen. Mark Milley, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and former Chief of Staff of the Army (CSA); current CSA Gen. James C. McConville; Secretary of Defense and former Secretary of the Army (SA) Mark Esper; and current SA Ryan McCarthy for their senior leadership during my time as PEO. I will never forget the honor of receiving then-CSA Gen. Milley as our distinguished guest at PEO EIS headquarters in 2018 -- a career highlight for me. We as a nation and as an Army have faced many challenges in the last few years, but the strong leadership of this team of professionals has been a guiding force in carrying us through to success.

We rely on a team of stakeholder colleagues who partner with us every day to bring superior products and services to Soldiers; chief among these are Gen. Gus Perna, Commanding General, Army Materiel Command (AMC); Lt. Gen. Stephen Fogarty, Commanding General, Army Cyber Command (ARCYBER); and Lt. Gen. Bruce Crawford, Army Chief Information Officer. Gen. Perna was an early and enthusiastic champion of programs such as the Army Contract Writing System (ACWS) and Army Vantage. These important systems are helping the Army to achieve operational and audit readiness and drive down sustainment costs, while getting the right information into leaders’ hands. Lt. Gen. Fogarty has been a loyal supporter of the Forge, Defensive Cyber Operations’ one-stop shop to identify, assess, integrate and procure defensive cyber prototypes which are delivered to the cyber protection brigades charged with defending the Army’s network. His recognition of the possibilities of the space was a great enabler in making it a reality, and we are proud to be partnered with ARCYBER in getting the right technology to Soldiers. Lt. Gen. Crawford has been instrumental in the Army’s goal of network modernization, an area where we are closely partnered to deliver a secure, protected, interoperable, sustainable and mobile network; I thank him and his deputy, Mr. Greg Garcia, for their great leadership and teamwork.

Other notable critical stakeholders include Executive Deputy Commanding General, AMC, Ms. Lisha Adams; Army Financial Manager & Comptroller Mr. Johnathan Moak; Deputy Director, Office of Business Transformation, Mr. Robin Swan; and ARCYBER Deputy Command General Mr. Ron Pontius.

These individuals’ loyal support, collaboration and advocacy has made a difference in Soldier’s lives.

The Army has it right on this: What it comes down to -- what really matters in life -- is people.

The people of PEO EIS are some of the finest I have ever known, and the moments spent with them stand out for me as the most memorable. I will never forget the time that the entire team at Logistics Modernization Program (LMP) joined together to count cadence for me. I carry with me the many hugs (you know I’m a hugger), and the joy of pinning a signature HOOAH pin on a teammate. The times these good people were there with me working long hours, or when they were there for me in tragedy. Celebrating new traditions, like the All Saints Ball, and older traditions, like our deputy’s annual snazzy Christmas suit at the Holiday Party. Irv Day, (formerly Organization Day), where these same lovely folks gleefully line up to dunk the leadership team.

Thank you all. You mean the world to me.

I have a lot of people to thank for helping me to lead this organization to success, but no one more than Brendan Burke.

Brendan has been a strong leader, an innovative problem solver, an expert insider, a confidant, and a friend. There is no one I would rather have had right seat ride – or to sometimes take the wheel – and I owe him a debt of gratitude. I know that Brendan will help to ease the transition as I say a difficult farewell and Ross comes aboard, and I am grateful that the team will be cared for, mentored and led by these two extraordinary professionals as they continue the uninterrupted, important work we do every day in support of our great Army.

To our industry partners, our stakeholders and customers – this team moves mountains for our Soldiers because the dedication and commitment runs deep…but we simply couldn’t do it without your partnership. 

It takes a team to make the magic happen, and magical it has been.

Thank you for being so hard to leave, and please join me in congratulating Mr. Ross Guckert. I know you will take good care of him.

In the meantime, please continue to take care of each other, look out for your families and communities, and be safe.

I leave you with one final HOOAH!

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

Connecting the Army. Working for Soldiers.

Chérie Smith,
Program Executive Officer