Want to learn about the good, the bad and ugly of IT buys? Come to ASCP's 2004 Army Information Technology Conference

Army Communicator, Spring, 2004

FORT MONMOUTH, N.J. -- The Army Small Computer Program will conduct its 2004 Army Information Technology Conference from June 8-10, 2004, at the Hershey Lodge and Convention Center, Hershey, Pa. The theme for the conference is "Centralizing IT Enterprise Acquisitions ... the good, the bad and the ugly."

The conference--which is free for all Army, Department of Defense, federal/government employees, support contractors, and exhibiting vendors--brings together the most important and knowledgeable people driving the Army's present and future IT requirements and will also feature a number of industry briefings, an internet cafe and hospitality events.

Guest speakers will include Kevin Carroll, the Program Executive Officer, Enterprise Information Systems; BG Charles W. Fletcher Jr., U.S. Army Assistant Deputy Chief of Staff for Logistics (G-4); COL Mark Barnette and Steve Klynsma of the Army Chief Information Office/G6; James Claussen, co-chair of the DoD Enterprise Software Initiative Working Group; and retired MG Robert Dees of Microsoft.

In the exhibit hall, more than 30 vendors will showcase the latest IT products and services available on ASCP contracts and Blanket Purchase Agreements, including the newest Information Technology Enterprise Solutions awards and products from CA, CDW-G, Dell, DLT, EMC, Gateway, GovConnection, GTSI, HP, ID, IBM, iGov, Immix, Insight, Lexmark, Lockheed, MPC, Mythics, Softchoice, Panasonic, PlanetGov, Structurewise, QSS, Sybase, Xerox and more.

Attendees may join the Open Forum Panel Discussion and hear from industry and government experts about "Centralizing IT Enterprise Acquisitions ... the good, the bad and the ugly." The good--what benefits can be realized for both the Army and Industry? The bad--what are the "no-nos" about centralizing IT acquisitions--too much, too soon? The ugly--what are the hardest things to change--cultures, mindsets, "ain't broke, don't fix it" attitudes?"

Attendees may also learn more about Performance Based Contracting within the ITES environment and how to get the most out of the Army's Enterprise buy for Microsoft Desktop and Server software products through formal side-bar training sessions that were designed primarily from ASCP's interaction with its customers over the past six months.

Attendees can earn continuous learning credits, get OPSEC training

Ray Semko, the famed "Diceman" from the Interagency OPSEC Support Staff, will present a provocative, uncompromising and irreverent look at the world of security. Proof of attendance for Semko's 90-minute presentation will be issued, which may satisfy local requirements for an annual security briefing.

Defense Acquisition Workforce Improvement Act members of the Defense Acquisition Workforce can earn required Continuous Learning Points by attending the AITC. DAWIA requires acquisition billeted personnel to participate in continuous learning activities. To earn continuing credits, a supervisor must approve attendance on an employee's individual development plan. Reference for this is the Under Secretary Of Defense (Acquisition and Technology) Policy on Continuous Learning for the Defense Acquisition Workforce. You can also find this information at the Army Acquisition Corps website under Policy.

ASCP provides commercial IT products and services for the Army Enterprise-including hardware, software, peripherals, networking and support services--which comply with DoD and Army policies on standardization and interoperability. ASCP takes the hassle out of buying computers in the federal government, as ASCP vendors can deliver in as little as two days after receiving an order.

To register, or for more information about the 2004 Army Information Technology Conference, visit the ASCP website at https:// ascp.monmouth.army.mil or call 1-888-232-4405 or 732-427-6787.