ASA(ALT) MILDEP VISITS PEO EISBY MS. KATHERINE MORGAN, COMMUNICATION SPECIALIST, PEO EIS

On Aug. 14, personnel from PEO EIS and PEO Soldier gathered into Wallace Theater on Fort Belvoir, Virginia, to hear from LTG Paul Ostrowski, the Principal Military Deputy to the Assistant Secretary of the Army (Acquisition, Logistics and Technology) and Director of the Army Acquisition Corps. LTG Ostrowski conducted a town hall to discuss his new role as the “MILDEP,” which he assumed in April 2017. During his speech, LTG Ostrowski touched on a variety of topics, but most notably, Army readiness. He concluded his talk by telling attendees that the U.S. Army was, “the most lethal, situational-aware force in the world, and that’s because of you.”

Just a few days later, on Aug. 17, LTG Ostrowski conducted a site-visit at PEO EIS on Fort Belvoir, traveling to the Enterprise Services (ES) and Information Installation Infrastructure – Communications and Capabilities offices, meeting Defense Communications and Army Transmission Systems (DCATS) personnel, viewing an equipment demonstration on the PEO EIS headquarters front lawn and visiting Army Enterprise Systems Integration Program, General Fund Business System (GFEBS) and Integrated Personnel and Pay System – Army (IPPS-A) personnel at the headquarters office. At each stop, LTG Ostrowski took time to individually greet members of the workforce and thank them for their hard work. He also presented command coins to members of each office who were selected by their leadership for outstanding work and commitment to the mission. Those honored were Mr. Gabe Saliba, deputy product manager, Logistics Modernization Program; Mr. Patrick Comes, assistant

product manager, wideband remote monitoring sensor, Wideband Enterprise Satellite Systems; Mr. Rajat Ray, systems engineer, ES; Mr. Rajat Senjalia, modernization manager, GFEBS; Ms. Michelle Walker, life-cycle technical support lead, Force Management System; Mr. Kyle Tucker, assistant project manager, Defensive Cyber Operations; and Mr. Greg Fritz, enterprise resource program architect, PEO EIS.

View photos from the MILDEP’s visit on the PEO EIS Flickr page!

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LTG Ostrowski (left) and Ms. Terry Watson (right), deputy PEO, view the new PEO EIS command video.

Ms. Kimberly Davidson (left), product lead, Land Mobile Radio, and COL Enrique Costas (right), project manager, DCATS, provide briefings to LTG Ostrowski (center) on the PEO EIS lawn.

EDITOR Ms. Katherine Morgan DESIGNER Ms. Racquel Lockett-Finch

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PEO EIS WELCOMES BACK COL MIKESHBY MS. DESSERRAE STEPHENS, OPERATIONS SUPPORT, AESIP

On Aug. 4, BG Patrick W. Burden, PEO EIS, hosted a change of charter ceremony for Army Enterprise Systems Integration Program (AESIP) at the Defense Acquisition University’s Howell Auditorium on Fort Belvoir, Virginia. During the ceremony, BG Burden transitioned the charter from COL Harry Culclasure to the incoming project manager, COL Robert “RJ” Mikesh. BG Burden also presented COL Culclasure with the Legion of Merit and thanked him for his service to PEO EIS and AESIP. COL Culclasure will next serve as a member of the Section 809 panel, which is working to streamline, and improve the defense acquisition process.

COL Mikesh, joins AESIP from the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology and Logistics, where he provided support as a senior military assistant. He is no stranger to PEO EIS as he previously served as the product manager for the Installation Information Infrastructure Modernization Program from 2012-2015.

Thank you COL Culclasure and welcome back, COL Mikesh!

CHANGING OF THE GUARD AT DCATSBY MS. KATHERINE MORGAN, COMMUNICATION SPECIALIST, PEO EIS

On Aug. 3, BG Patrick W. Burden, PEO EIS, hosted a change of charter ceremony for Defense Communications and Army Transmission Systems (DCATS) at Thurman Hall on Fort Belvoir, Virginia. During the ceremony, BG Burden transferred the DCATS charter from COL Charles Stein to incoming project manager, COL Enrique Costas. BG Burden also presented COL Stein with the Legion of Merit and LTG(R) Dick Formica, former Commanding General of the Army Space and Missile Defense Command, presented COL Stein with the Army Space Professionals Association’s Order of St. Dominic Medallion Award.

COL Stein had served as the DCATS project manager since 2014. During that time, he spearheaded the advancement of Army and DOD satellite communications (SATCOM) by completely replacing four wideband SATCOM operations centers and bringing a cutting edge capability to the DOD through the modernization of enterprise terminals. This effort

significantly increased the available bandwidth of strategic and deployed joint forces around the world. COL Stein will next serve as the director of fires for the Assistant Secretary of the Army (Acquisition, Logistics and Technology) (ASA[ALT]) at the Pentagon.

COL Costas joins PEO EIS from deployment as the ASA(ALT) forward director in support of the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility operations. He began his Army career as team leader with the 143rd Long Range Surveillance Detachment (Airborne), Texas Army National Guard. COL Costas previously served at PEO EIS as the assistant product manager, Acquisition Business. As the project manager for DCATS, he will manage the program’s annual budget of more than $875 million that funds 30 strategic satellite and terrestrial communications systems.

Thanks you COL Stein and welcome back, COL Costas!

BG Burden stands with COL Mikesh and his family. (l to r) BG Burden, COL Mikesh, Mrs. Anaid Mikesh, Ms. Cameryn Mikesh and Mr. Sean Mikesh.

(l to r) COL Stein, BG Burden and COL Costas.

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COL HARRIS TAKES COMMAND AT I3C2 BY MS. ROSALIE FEHRMANN, STRATEGIC COMMUNICATIONS SPECIALIST, I3C2

BG Patrick W. Burden, PEO EIS, presided over the Installation Information Infrastructure Communications and Capabilities (I3C2) change of charter ceremony on Aug. 31. At the ceremony, Mr. Michael Padden, who served as the project manager (PM) for I3C2 since June 2014, relinquished the charter to COL Chad Harris. During Mr. Padden’s tenure, he proactively led multiple major technical and managerial initiatives that enable the modernization and delivery of the Army’s network infrastructure, technology and capabilities worldwide. “Mike, his product managers and their talented teams have had a critical set of responsibilities with a direct impact on our operational readiness and warfighter missions around the world and at home,” said BG Burden.

Mr. Padden was awarded the Superior Civilian Service Award for his performance while serving as the PM for I3C2 and the Bronze Order of Mercury, which recognized his significant contributions to promote the Signal Corps and the Signal Corps Regimental Association. Mr. Padden will be the first Assistant PEO, Network Integration at PEO EIS. In this role, he will support the execution of the PEO EIS missions for all network systems and defensive cyber operations and serve as the PEO liaison to a variety of functional stakeholders.

COL Harris comes to I3C2 from the Joint Staff, where he served as a lead requirements analyst, J8. With 23 years of military service, COL Harris joined the Acquisition Corps in 2005 and received a master’s degree in defense systems acquisition management from the Naval Post Graduate School in 2006. He has since held roles that include test officer at Army Operational Test Command on Fort Hood, Texas; working on engineer equipment including the Mine Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicle, the MRAP ambulance and the line of communication bridge; assistant product manager for Maneuver Support in the Robotic Systems Joint Project Office in Warren, Michigan; and commander, Yuma Test Center, where he led an organization of 1,500 Soldiers, civilians and contractors responsible for testing a wide variety of equipment at one of the Army’s largest test centers.

COL Harris’ awards include the Bronze Star Medal with Valor device, the Bronze Star, the Meritorious Service Medal, the Army Commendation Medal, the Army Achievement Medal and Parachute Badge.

Thank you, Mr. Padden and welcome, COL Harris!

NEW PRODUCT DIRECTOR AT ALTESSBY MS. KASSIE MCGUIRE, ACQUISITION SPECIALIST, ALTESS

On Aug. 11, Mr. Timothy M. Hale assumed charter as the new product director (PD) of Acquisition, Logistics and Technology Enterprise Systems and Services (ALTESS) in Radford, Virginia. Mr. Hale mostly recently worked as the deputy assistant secretary of the Army for procurement. Prior to that, he was the chief for the Army’s tactical engagement simulation systems at the Army Training and Doctrine Command at Fort Eustis, Virginia from 2009-2013. Mr. Hale entered military service in 1982 as an aviation electronics technician in the U.S. Navy Reserves, VR-48, Naval Air Facility Washington and was commissioned in the U.S. Army Signal Corp in 1989, where he entered active duty.

As ALTESS welcomes its new leader, the program says goodbye to its acting product lead, LTC Toy R. Frasier Jr., who will remain within Enterprise Services as the project officer for Army Enterprise Staff Management System. The ALTESS team is appreciative to LTC Frasier for his leadership during his time at ALTESS.

Thank you LTC Frasier and welcome, Mr. Hale!

BG Burden (center) transitions the I3C2 charter from Mr. Padden (left) to the incoming PM, COL Chad Harris (right).

Mr. Neff (left) and Mr. Hale (right) at the Assumption of Charter ceremony.

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FMS/RCAS WOWS AT EANGUSBY MR. MARK DURAND, FORCE AUTHORIZATION PRODUCT OWNER, RCAS

Members of the Force Management System/Reserve Component Automation Systems (FMS/RCAS) team including Ms. Sammi Foong, product lead, Mr. Mark Durand, force authorization applications product owner, and Mr. Pete Van Schagen, communications support, had the opportunity to meet face-to-face with over 150 Soldiers and personnel from the Army and Air National Guard while attending and exhibiting at the Enlisted Association of the National Guard of the U.S. (EANGUS) 46th Annual Conference in Reno, Nevada, from Aug. 27-29. This professional development and information sharing event offered the best opportunity in a single forum to directly communicate with the enlisted RCAS users and the Soldier supervisor community. The team was also able to demonstrate the new and improved features of RCAS applications.

The exhibit booth provided RCAS users with the potential for hands-on system experience and provided the FMS/RCAS staff with real time feedback, as well as the opportunity to personally respond to questions and comments.

For more information on how RCAS may be able to support your organization, please contact Mr. Durand at 703-806-3120 or mark.j.durand.civ@mail.mil.

P2E TAKES ON MCF PHASE 2BY MS. BRITTNEY M. BROWN, STRATEGIC COMMUNICATIONS, P2E

Power Project Enablers (P2E) has kicked-off the new fiscal year by increasing its commitment to Army readiness. Throughout the year, P2E will tackle a multitude of projects that will render top-notch IT infrastructure and network modernization to Army units around the world. One of P2E’s fiscal year 2018 priorities is the U.S. Army Pacific (USARPAC) Mission Command Facility (MCF) Phase 2, a venture that will provide USARPAC with classified and unclassified IT capabilities throughout their new command facility on Fort Shafter, Hawaii.

MCF Phase 2 is an increment of USARPAC’s overall plan to replace its current command facility, which was originally built for temporary use in 1944. The new MCF will also house the four-star headquarters, currently located at Fort Shafter’s Palm Circle. Mr. Ki Ho Kim, Pacific integrated project team leader, P2E, says the new IT capabilities will allow USARPAC to perform command and control exercises with joint partners in the Pacific and increase U.S.-coalition interoperability. “Upon completion, this project will become the model for modernizing U.S. military command centers worldwide,” said Mr. Kim.

P2E’s execution of MCF Phase 2 began after the project’s kickoff in August. P2E, in conjunction with USARPAC G-6, hosted the kick-off as an information exchange between the 311th Signal Command (Theater) and the MCF Phase 2 integrator. LTC Gregory S. Soulé, product manager, P2E, says effective communication between stakeholders, project managers and integrators in the early stages of a project is key for successful execution. “Any communication gap between stakeholder needs and the interpretation of those needs can be costly from both a budgeting and readiness perspective,” said LTC Soulé. “Much of P2E’s success is a direct result of engaged stakeholders, and our ability to keep the lines of communication open with our integrators.”

P2E expects to execute MCF Phase 2 within a two-year period of performance. The project’s finished products will include turn-key solutions to the facility’s local area network, campus area network, wide area network, voice over internet protocol, voice over secret internet protocol and video teleconference capabilities. Following implementation, the USARPAC and 311th Signal Command staffs will receive training on the use of the systems.

“P2E looks forward to providing the four-star headquarters with state-of-the-art capabilities that will support thousands of Soldiers,” said Mr. Kim. “Through MCF Phase 2, we will continue to set an example of successful execution of multi-year, incremental projects.”

A graphic rendering of the new USARPAC MCF.

The RCAS Team ready to exhibit at the EANGUS Conference. (l to r) Mr. Pete Van Schagen, Ms. Sammi Foong and Mr. Mark Durand.

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EIGHTH ARMY CELEBRATES P2EBY MS. BRITTNEY M. BROWN, STRATEGIC COMMUNICATIONS, P2E

Power Projection Enablers (P2E) program was recently recognized during a ribbon cutting ceremony held for the new Eighth Army Headquarters at Camp Humphreys, Republic of Korea. LTG Thomas S. Vandal, the Eighth Army commanding general, gave a heartfelt thanks to members of the P2E family for their support in engineering, installing and testing the Command, Control, Communications, Computers and Information Management (C4IM) systems within the headquarters facility. P2E’s C4IM deliverables included providing the necessary infrastructure for command information displays and video teleconference systems, as well as providing access to several networks. LTC Gregory S. Soulé, product manager, P2E, believes P2E’s success with this project, like others, is a result of the team’s relentless pursuit of excellence and efficiency. “I am extremely proud of the combined P2E team and our capability to deliver to the Eighth Army,” said LTC Soulé. “LTG Vandal’s recognition of the team is greatly appreciated and is indicative of the outstanding teamwork and dedication from all stakeholders involved.”

P2E’s engineering and installation of the C4IM systems was included in Increment 2c of the C4I portion of the Yongsan Relocation Plan and Land Partnership Plan (YRP/LPP). Additionally, P2E provided additional support as the Eighth Army began to put the systems to use. “As the warfighters began to train on the C4IM systems, we listened to their suggestions and implemented system changes to more clearly reflect their operational needs and increase the Eighth Army’s operational effectiveness,” said Mr. Duane Rothe, integrated project team lead, P2E. As the YRP/LPP project moves forward, P2E will continue to support the mission through various C4I projects.

“P2E looks forward to continued execution of C4I roll-out, and teaming with our stakeholders to facilitate the movement of the remaining units, critical commands and control headquarters affected by YRP/LPP,” said LTC Soulé.

I3MP CONNECTS FORT HOODBY MS. ROSALIE FEHRMANN, STRATEGIC COMMUNICATIONS SPECIALIST, I3C2

The Installation Information Infrastructure Modernization Program (I3MP) completed delivery of outside plant information infrastructure upgrades to Fort Hood, Texas. The completion of this project marks the end of phase II of a three-phase approach that will ultimately provide a modern Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) telephone system to Fort Hood. Referred to as time-division multiplexing (TDM), the legacy phone system transmits and receives multiple, independent signals over a common signal path made of copper wire. Since TDM phone systems are no longer being installed on Army installations, the costs of operating and maintaining the TDM-based systems are rising. As such, the Army is transitioning to VoIP networks, which will enable the decommissioning of legacy TDM telephone systems. VoIP systems leverage existing data networks to provide voice communications to users in a more efficient, cost-effective way.

Mr. Jeff Porter, the Fort Hood project team lead, managed the day-to-day activities on the project. Along with the product team assist, Mr. Carmine F. Pesce, Mr. Porter coordinated and collaborated with their government and industry partners to install the new telephone system. “We learned a lot of lessons on this first project. Hopefully, we can apply these lessons learned to future projects, increasing the speed of service delivery to Army installations to support the Soldier,” said Mr. Porter.

(l to r) Mr. Alberto Dominguez, assistant product manager; Mr. Jeff Porter, product team lead; and Mr. Carmine Pesce, product team assist. Photo by Mr. Scott Sundsvold

P2E support personnel attend the Eighth Army Headquarters ribbon cutting ceremony. (l to r) Mr. Keith Colbert, VTC engineer; LTG Thomas Vandal, Commanding General, Eighth Army; Mr. Jermaine Mims, network engineer; and Mr. Brandon Rogers, network engineer.

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DLS SUPPORTS THE W.VA. NATIONAL GUARD AT THE 2017 SCOUT JAMBOREEBY DLS STRATEGIC COMMUNICATIONS

The Distributed Learning System (DLS) was a key team member for the West Virginia Army National Guard (WVARNG) support of the 2017 National Scout Jamboree at Summit Bechtel Reserve in Mount Hope, West Virginia. From July 13 to 28, DLS provided two Deployed Digital Training Campus (DDTC) systems to the WVARNG. The DDTCs provide a training resource capable of operations in remote areas where communication resources are limited. Each DDTC is equipped with a Very Small Aperture Terminal (VSAT) along with 21 general purpose laptop computers, a video teleconference (VTC) system and a Voice over Internet Protocol phone. Using satellite-based wide area network links provides Soldiers a resource to complete training when their unit is operating in an austere environment. This capability met the need for the WVARNG while supporting the National Scout Jamboree.

DLS displayed exceptional flexibility in meeting the WVARNG’s requirement. The DLS team quickly prepared two DDTCs for deployment, arranged shipping and provided continuous support. When the WVARNG arrived at the Summit Bechtel Reserve, DLS was requested to provide rapid onsite assistance due to the unique location and resource constraints. Within three hours of the request, the DLS team had a network engineer on the road to the location to provide the requested assistance. Once onsite, the DLS engineer linked the two DDTCs through a satellite connection to the network, and the unit was able to use the DDTC’s full range of training capabilities.

Over the two week period, over 190 Army National Guard Soldiers and Army civilians completed training on the DDTCs. Training completed include: the Army Threat Awareness and Reporting Program, Military Occupation Specialty skills classes, Pre-deployment classes, the Army Traffic Safety Program Accident Avoidance course, Sexual Harassment/Assault Response and Prevention and general unit level training. Soldiers also made use of Virtual Battle Space 3, a software installed on all DDTC laptops that allows the unit to develop and implement squad and platoon level training scenarios. Additionally, personnel were able to continue work on college courses and complete general correspondence with the systems.

The DDTC proved to be a valuable training resource for Soldiers and Civilians supporting the 2017 National Scout Jamboree.

Tents housing the DDTC at the 2017 National Scout Jamboree at Summit Bechtel Reserve, Mt. Hope, WV.

DDTC is equipped with a VSAT along with 21 general purpose laptop computers, a VTC system and a VOIP phone.

Lt . Col . (Ret . ) Rob “Waldo” Waldman, a Hall of Fame leadership speaker, executive coach and author of “Never Fly Solo,” addresses DHITS conference attendees in Orlando, Florida, on July 25.

MC4 ATTENDS THE DEFENSE HEALTH INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY SYMPOSIUM BY MR. PAUL CLARK, STRATEGIC COMMUNICATIONS LEAD, MC4

The Defense Health Information Technology Symposium (DHITS) was held from July 25-27 in Orlando, Florida, and included a robust list of exhibits and break-out sessions focused on health IT. Staff from the Medical Communications for Combat Casualty Care (MC4) participated in the symposium and focused on learning more about the current and future state of Military Health System (MHS) Genesis, the new electronic health record (EHR) for the MHS that provides enhanced, secure technology to manage health information. In addition to getting an update on the status of MHS Genesis, the overarching topics MC4 leadership concentrated on included the Army’s focus on readiness, the impact of congressional direction to merge all service medical treatment facilities (MTFs) under the Defense Health Agency by October 2018, the additional focus needed on Soldier medical training and skills, and the defense health program resourcing needed to continue Army healthcare.

The MC4 team in attendance took note of a number of presentations which included topics on the need for virtual health capability and solutions on the multi-domain battlefield, telehealth and mobile technology, real-time patient data and the status of the Joint Operational Medicine Information Systems (JOMIS) deployment of MHS Genesis to the operational medicine community. In particular, MC4 had an interest in sites that have already deployed MHS Genesis and the lessons learned from those efforts.

In recent weeks, the timing of the JOMIS/MHS Genesis deployment to the operational theater has been pushed back 18-24 months. This means efforts to modernize operational medical systems, such as the existing Theater Medical Information Program-Joint (TMIP-J) system used today by the Army and other services will have to wait. In the interim, MC4 is looking for proactive opportunities to make use of the added time to deployment. Notably, MC4 plans to use the information gathered during the symposium to help prepare for the new healthcare system. In particular, MC4 plans to find solutions for the challenges facing garrison MTFs during deployments of MHS Genesis. For example, during the MHS Genesis configuration build in the garrison MTF at Fairchild Air Force Base, Washington, there were a number of challenges that emerged. Some of those challenges were significant, including issues with pharmacy, scheduling, workload and staffing. In the future, MC4 can use this knowledge to shape garrison MTF testing that will improve operational medicine workflows during operational assessments.

MC4 also used the symposium as an opportunity to meet with personnel from the Office of the Surgeon General of the U.S. Army, who provided their vision for planning the way ahead in Army operational medicine that will aid MC4. In the DHITS exhibit hall, MC4 staff were interested in seeing demonstrations from a number of MHS Genesis applications. They were able to discuss the attributes and benefits of the MC4 program, as well as network with key partners and stakeholders. Finally, another element for planners to consider came out of discussions centered on sustainment. Even though JOMIS may be taking over the configuration and deployment of the new EHR system in a few years, the current TMIP-J systems will still need to be maintained long after MHS Genesis is deployed in theater. At the end of the day, there’s still an EHR program to be fielded to deployed forces in harm’s way, which will continue to be MC4’s focus.

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WESS DEVELOPS WIDEBAND TRAINING AND CERTIFICATION SYSTEMBY MS. RACHEL WARD, ASSISTANT PRODUCT MANAGER WTCS, WESS

Wideband Enterprise Satellite Systems (WESS) has procured a new modular training simulation system for the Wideband Global Satellite Communications (WGS) program, known as the Wideband Training and Certification System (WTCS). The system will provide skill level one military occupation specialty training, operator training and evaluation activities. The first set of workstations was installed at Fort Gordon, Georgia, in September, and an additional 21 sets will be installed at five Wideband Satellite Communications Operation Centers (WSOCs) around the world.

WTCS is the first system of its kind to provide both training and certification capabilities for the Soldiers operating WSOCs. The WTCS design maximizes the use of automation, modularity and virtualization approaches to enhance workflow and minimize operator workload associated with managing, conducting and evaluating training activities. In today’s era of limited budgets and resources, the WTCS offers the required training capabilities at a reasonable cost and provides realistic simulation training for the satellite controller’s community.

I3MP COMPLETES 3ID HQ TECH REFRESHBY MR. SCOTT SUNDSVOLD, PUBLIC AFFAIRS, I3MP

The Installation Information Infrastructure Modernization Program (I3MP) completed a Home Station Mission Command Center (HSMCC) initiative technology refresh for the 3rd Infantry Division (ID) Headquarters on Fort Stewart, Georgia. The HSMCC, also known as a joint operations center, increases commander flexibility by providing a suite of sustained and standardized technical capabilities, components to operate multiple networks, enhanced audio/visual capabilities and the physical infrastructure necessary to establish uninterrupted

expeditionary mission command through all phases of operations. MAJ Aleyzer Mora, assistant product manager over command center modernizations, I3MP, oversaw the 3rd ID tech refresh day-to-day activities. “The need for speed in delivering this IT solution to the fighting edge is very critical,” said MAJ Mora. “Thanks to the 3rd ID leadership, the I3MP team and our industry partners, Soldiers have the critical IT solutions that enable commanders and their staff to accomplish the mission.”

MAJ Mora (left) managed the day-to-day activities of the tech refresh at Fort Stewart, aided by Thomas “Karl” Brenstuhl (right), the project team assist.

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PEO EIS GETS READY FOR DEFENSE READINESS REPORTING SYSTEM – ARMYBY MS. BETH A. GARRIGAN, ASSISTANT PROJECT DIRECTOR DRRS-A, FMS

On May 28, Ms. Steffanie Easter, Acting Assistant Secretary of the Army for Acquisition, Logistics and Technology, signed the Defense Readiness Reporting System – Army (DRRS-A) transition plan, which authorized the transfer from PEO Command, Control and Communications – Tactical to PEO EIS. The DRRS-A program, which provides senior leaders with accurate information about Army force readiness, now aligns under Integrated Personnel and Pay System – Army and will be nested in Force Management System effective Oct. 1. Transition activities are currently underway and will be transparent to the community of over 6,500 users. This PEO realignment sets in motion an important strategic milestone which consolidates the primary Army G-3/5/7 system portfolio under PEO EIS. Furthermore, it positions the Army to more efficiently streamline business processes and integrate system architectures to better serve the needs of Army enterprise resource planning systems and joint service consumers. DRRS-A completes net-centric unit status reporting training with the D.C.

National Guard at Fort Belvoir, VA.

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CHESS MAKES MOVES AT AFCEA TECHNET AUGUSTA BY MS. TRICIA SHELLEY, PUBLIC AFFAIRS, CHESS

The Computer Hardware Enterprise Software and Solutions (CHESS) team exhibited at TechNet Augusta Symposium on Aug. 7 in Augusta, Georgia. The annual event, hosted by the Armed Forces Communications and Electronics Association (AFCEA), included presentations from Army Cyber Command, Army Training and Doctrine Command and the Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Army (Acquisition, Logistics and Technology).

At the CHESS exhibit, Ms. Stacy Watson, enterprise solutions division director, and Ms. Ylander Jones, hardware and services lead, had the opportunity to meet face to face with Soldiers as well as senior military and industry leaders to brief them on CHESS and their mission. The event was a huge success and provided the CHESS team a wonderful atmosphere for customer feedback, discussion and networking.

For more information about CHESS, please visit the CHESS IT e-mart at https://chess.army.mil/ or contact the CHESS Customer Support Center at armychess@mail.mil or 1-888-232-4405.

Ms. Stacy Watson ( le f t ) br ie f ing COL Kenneth G. Haynes, Di rector for the Army Global Modernizat ion Team, on CHESS’s miss ion.

For submissions contact, 703-806-0494, katherine.m.morgan17.ctr@mail.mil

IPPS-A FACEBOOK TOWN HALL SPREADS THE WORDBY MS. KATHERINE HUTTON, STRATEGIC COMMUNICATIONS SUPPORT, IPPS-A

On Aug. 3, Integrated Personnel and Pay System – Army (IPPS-A) held its first virtual Facebook Town Hall. The Town Hall provided an opportunity for IPPS-A’s stakeholders to ask leadership any and all questions they had about the system. With over 60 questions asked during the one hour session, stakeholder participation and engagement was outstanding.

Stakeholder questions largely focused around the system’s capabilities, as well as what sort of training users will receive and how data will migrate from legacy systems to IPPS-A. Overall, the questions were supportive or balanced in tone, with stakeholders eager for more information about the system. IPPS-A leadership, COL Darby McNulty, project manager; COL Gregory Johnson, functional management division chief; and LTC Nicole Reinhardt, product manager for IPPS-A Increment II, worked hand in hand with members of the IPPS-A strategic communications team and technical subject matter experts to answer the questions.

A big thank you to all the IPPS-A team members who participated and helped make this event so successful!

LMP’S MS. LISA DAPONTE WINS AMC LOUIS DELLAMONICA AWARD BY MS. CHRISTINE IRVING, PUBLIC AFFAIRS SUPPORT, LMP

In August, Army Materiel Command (AMC) named Ms. Lisa DaPonte, functional integration branch lead, Logistics Modernization Program (LMP), as one of its Louis Dellamonica Award recipients for Outstanding AMC Personnel of the Year for 2016. This award recognizes outstanding accomplishments that have significantly contributed to AMC’s mission to develop and deliver materiel readiness solutions to U.S. warfighters. Ms. DaPonte was recognized for her significant contributions to LMP sustainment, providing support to the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Acquisition, Logistics and Technology’s Total Package Fielding (TPF) Concept of Operations (CONOPS) and implementing LMP Increment 2.

For sustainment, Ms. DaPonte helped prioritize and execute hundreds of change requests to enhance LMP, as well as address audit readiness and compliance requirements to meet the DOD auditability mandate. Ms. DaPonte also provided critical inputs to assist the Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Army for Acquisition, Policy and Logistics to publish the TPF CONOPS and played an integral role in completing the successful pilot program at Fort

Bliss, Texas, to hand off M88 recovery vehicles from LMP to Global Combat Support System – Army using the LMP TPF distribution process.

To reach Increment 2 full fielding in May 2016, she provided critical support to the teams that cleansed and migrated over seven million data records and completed more than 7,000 test cases. Additionally, she helped establish the functionality architecture to link Automatic Identification Technology to LMP, which will reduce some ammunition plants’ manual efforts, resulting in costs savings starting in fiscal year 2016 of $4.85 million and continuing annually at $9.7 million (projected to fiscal year 2026).

Ms. DaPonte’s knowledge of AMC business operations, understanding of LMP and strong relationships with dozens of customer and partner organizations contributed to AMC’s mission success in 2016 and earned her this prestigious recognition.

Congratulations Ms. DaPonte!

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IPPS-A leadership team members, technical subject matter experts, strategic communications team members and Army National Guard and Reserve Soldiers watch the IPPS-A Facebook page as stakeholders’ questions pour in.

Ms. Lisa DaPonte.

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–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– FAREWELL& THANK YOU

MS. VIRGINIA FOREBACKBY MS. TRACY BROTHERS, COMMUNICATIONS SUPPORT, TAO

On July 27, the Technology Applications Office (TAO) celebrated the retirement of Ms. Virginia E. Foreback, who served as the administrative management specialist in the operations support section with TAO from April 2015 to July 2017. She managed administrative functions involved in the complex, diverse and specialized aspects of the Army environment that supported Department of Defense and Army special programs and sensitive activities.

Upon her retirement, Ms. Foreback received the Superior Civilian Service Award signed by BG Patrick Burden, PEO EIS. This award is the third highest award for civilian employees in the federal government. She was presented an American flag flown over the Pentagon, a certificate of appreciation from Mr. John Swart, director, TAO, and a certificate of retirement signed by BG Burden. Her 30 years of distinguished accomplishments reflect great credit upon herself, her units of assignment and the U.S. Army.

MR. RAYMOND SOROKA BY MS. EILEEN FINNEY, CHIEF, HR AND ADMIN SERVICES, ALTESS

On Sept. 15, Mr. Raymond Soroka retired after a 29-year career at Acquisition, Logistics, and Technology Enterprise Systems and Services (ALTESS) in Radford, Virginia. Mr. Soroka arrived at ALTESS on Sept. 12, 1988, as a computer programmer and became known as the office’s software guru. One of his first efforts at ALTESS was as a Windows NT Network Engineer for the initial Acquisition Information Management (AIM) system. He assumed leadership of the AIM team where he directed the development, testing and deployment of multiple versions of the AIM system.

Mr. Soroka was also one of the first Service Level Managers (SLM) at ALTESS. He single-handedly created the original SLM Cost Model at ALTESS to help determine costs for services provided to customers. He defined initial SLM processes, created the pilot Service Level Agreement (SLA) template and established preliminary SLAs and costs for customers.

Over the last six years, he had an opportunity to put his analytical background to use by leading the contracts and acquisition team of the business management division. During this time, Mr. Soroka managed more than 3,000 government purchase card procurements valued at over $7 million and 700 contracts valued at over $350 million. He was the contracting officer representative supporting multiple contracts for ALTESS and more than 52 customers and 67 systems.

Mr. Soroka plans to enjoy retirement by devoting time to family pursuits and day trading.

MS. SALLY WHARTON & MR. VIRGIL LaBOARDBY MR. PETE VAN SCHAGEN, COMMUNICATIONS SUPPORT, RCAS

On Sept. 20, Reserve Component Automation System (RCAS) staff celebrated the retirement of two long-standing employees, Ms. Sally D. Wharton and Mr. Virgil LaBoard. Ms. Wharton, from the RCAS business management division, distinguished herself during a 44-year federal career. She spent four years on active duty and another 21 years in the U.S. Army Reserve, retiring as a First Sergeant. Ms. Wharton worked at RCAS for over 30 years and, during that time, received numerous awards and decorations, including two Meritorious Service Medals and the Superior Civilian Service Award.

Mr. Virgil LaBoard, from the RCAS technical management division, has over 42 years of distinguished civil service that started at Picatinny Arsenal, New Jersey, working with the Computer Systems Command, where he assisted with computer programming. Reflecting on his career, Mr. LaBoard said, “I enjoyed my opportunity for foreign travel the most. Getting out in the field with Soldiers and seeing that what you do makes a difference.”

Ms. Foreback.

Mr. Raymond Soroka.

Ms. Wharton (left) and Mr. Virgil LaBoard (right) hold retirement certificates presented by Ms. Sammi Foong (center), product lead, RCAS. Photo provided by Mr. Pete Van Schagen.