Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston –
Leaders from throughout the command took part in the Mission
and Installation Contracting Command Acquisition Leadership Conference at Fort
Sam Houston Dec. 1-4, 2015, to discuss key issues impacting the workforce as
well as contracting enterprise solutions.
The conference included commanders, directors and senior
enlisted members representing the MICC’s three contracting support brigades,
field directorate office and 32 contracting offices taking part in a variety of
briefings, interactive discussions and breakout sessions over three days.
Brig. Gen. Jeffrey Gabbert, George Cabaniss and Command Sgt.
Maj. Tomeka O’Neal, who make up the command team, opened the conference with
welcoming remarks and a briefing on the state of the command.
“The MICC has put in place innovative – data-driven
solutions and management systems built around the MICC Marketplace that not
only improves our customer support, but also manages our workforce and
acquisition efforts more efficiently and effectively,” Gabbert said.
Following their brief, leaders from across the command heard
from a guest speaker before dividing for breakout sessions to discuss
enterprise issues.
Over the remaining two days, they discussed a number of
topics to include stakeholder relationships, civilian labor law, NCO
professional development, contracting officer proponency, data management,
legal trends in contracting, small business program, inter-governmental service
agreements, Government Purchase Card Program trends, and reverse auction best
practices.
Additional subjects covered included the Army Sexual
Harassment/Assault Response and Prevention Program, trends discovered through
command management reviews, and contract closeout.
Anthony Sligar, deputy to the commander for the 925th
Contracting Battalion and MICC-Fort Drum, said the conference’s theme – “It’s a
new day” – summed it up best for him.
“The challenges of the MICC today are different than the
challenges of yesterday,” he said. “This shows how great our organization is
because throughout the ever-changing mission of the Army we continue to
complete our mission.”
Leaders also reviewed the MICC 2025 plan, which includes the
Purchase Agent Program, MICC Academy, and standardized office structure.
“The conference is an essential element in communicating and
understanding command priorities and transformation initiatives,” said Lt. Col.
Richard Pfeiffer, MICC-Fort Irwin commander. “Without the interactive dialogue
and discussion, we would be significantly less well equipped at the tactical
level in moving the organization forward.”
The MICC Contracting Operations Directorate, which stood up
in August as part of the MICC 2025 transformation, conducted training for
leaders on the Contracting Tactical Operations Center management system as well
as discuss modernization efforts with the application.