USD recognizes DoD Workforce Development efforts

Defense AT&L, March-April, 2008

The fourth annual Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology and Logistics Workforce Development Awards ceremony was held at the Officer's Club, Fort Belvoir, Va., in conjunction with the Program Executive Officers'/Systems Command Commanders' Conference. David Chu, the under secretary of defense for personnel and readiness, presided over the event and recognized five AT & L field organizations as award winners.

Twenty-one AT & L large and small field organizations submitted applications to showcase their best practices and contributions for the development of their workforce.

Gold Award Winner

The Gold Award Winner in the large organization category was the Defense Information Systems Agency. DISA developed an Emerging Leaders Program, targeted for personnel at grades GS-5 through 12 and designed to enhance leadership and management capacity. The agency also developed an Executive Leadership Development Program, which is a competitive, three-year program that supports the development of technical, professional, and leadership talent.

Silver Award Winners

The Silver Award Winner in the large organization category was the Defense Logistics Agency Human Resources Strategy and Training Center. DTC provides a structured roadmap for supervisors at all stages of their careers through their Enterprise Leader Development Program (ELDP). The ELDP is a competency-based program providing a continuum of assessments, developmental, and continuous learning activities for all leaders of the organization.

The Silver Award Winner in the small organization category went to J-6 Philadelphia Information Operations, DLA. J6P Strategic Direction Integrated Process Team, composed of all JP6 managers, has been instrumental in the clarification of their strategic plan. They are directly aligned with the DLA Strategic Plan, setting specific goals geared to the benefit of the workforce.

Bronze Award Winners

The Bronze Award was presented to both the U.S. Army Aviation and Missile Life Cycle Management Command and the Air Force Research Laboratory. AMCOM established the "AMCOM Leader Development Life Cycle," which is designed to enhance the leadership depth of all levels of the workforce. AMCOM also chartered its Acquisition Center University to facilitate the training needs of acquisition personnel. AFRL implemented several programs to enhance leadership development. Its Junior Force Council exists at each command's centers and is composed of civilian and military employees under the age of 30 with fewer than eight years of government service. The council allows junior workers to identify areas of concern, research topics, and make suggestions for improvement. AFRL's Personnel Policy Boards identify and prepare the best leadership teams for the present and future, and also help identify core technical competencies and forecasting demands for those competencies as well as methods for obtaining them.

The USD(AT & L) Workforce Development Award was established on May 28, 2004, for the purpose of recognizing those organizations that are achieving excellence in learning and development for their employees. Additionally, the award program identifies best practices for other USD(AT & L) organizations to adopt.