Honoring excellence: 2024 Army Acquisition Executive Awards celebrate acquisition innovators

WASHINGTON (Dec. 12, 2024) - The exceptional achievements of the Army Acquisition Workforce, who play a vital role in advancing the Army's modernization goals by delivering innovative solutions to meet evolving challenges, will be recognized at the 2024 Army Acquisition Executive's Excellence in Leadership Awards Ceremony on Jan. 9 at the Pentagon.

The annual awards ceremony honors the individuals and teams whose dedication, innovation and leadership provide the Army with the cutting-edge capabilities needed to stay ahead in an ever-changing landscape. The Hon. Douglas R. Bush, Assistant Secretary of the Army for Acquisition, Logistics and Technology will lead the event and celebrate the contributions of this year's awardees.

"The transformation of the Army depends on the expertise and tireless efforts of our acquisition professionals," said Bush. "These leaders are more than just stewards of innovation; they are the architects of our success, ensuring our Soldiers are equipped with the tools and technology they need to meet any mission head-on. It is an honor to recognize their achievements and dedication to the Army's future."

The AAE Excellence in Leadership Awards highlight achievements across a range of categories, showcasing the diverse ways in which the AAW contributes to mission readiness. From groundbreaking advancements in technology to streamlined processes that enhance efficiency, this year's winners exemplify the innovation and commitment that define the Army's acquisition community.

As the Army continues to accelerate modernization, the contributions of the AAW remain critical. These awards serve as a reminder of the human element behind technological advancements-an element defined by resilience, ingenuity and an unwavering focus on the mission.

For more information about the AAE Excellence in Leadership Awards and this year's winners, visit https://asc.army.mil/web/acquisition-awards/.

2024 AAE Award Winners:

Acquisition Career Support Professional of the Year
Adam R. Hall, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

Business Operations Professional of the Year Award
Matthew Seaman; Joint Program Executive Office, Armaments and Ammunition

Defense Export and Cooperation Journeyman of the Year Award
Michael Suhy; Army Contracting Command, Detroit Arsenal

Defense Export and Cooperation Professional of the Year Award
Brandi Martin, Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Army for Defense Exports and Cooperation

Logistician of the Year Award
Craig Carson; Program Executive Office, Ground Combat Systems

Product Management/Product Director Office Professional of the Year Award (O-5 Level)
Lt. Col. Edwin Kolen; Joint Program Executive Office for Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear Defense

Project Management/Project Director Office Professional of the Year Award (O-6 Level)
Col. Andrew Lunoff; Program Executive Office, Missiles and Space

Contracting Professional of the Year Award
Michele Boardwine; Joint Program Executive Office for Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear Defense

Barbara C. Heald (Deployed Contracting Civilian) Award
Sarah Keebaugh; Army Contracting Command, Theater Contracting Center

Outstanding Grants or Agreements Professional of the Year Award
Jason C. Tatom; Program Executive Office Intelligence, Electronic Warfare and Sensors

Construction Services Contracting Professional of the Year Award
Katherine Younts; U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, New Orleans District

Test and Evaluation Professional of the Year Award
Steven Drake; Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Army for Data, Engineering and Software

Engineering and Technical Management Professional of the Year Award
Steve Dawson; Program Executive Office, Ground Combat Systems

Digital Transformation Professional of the Year Award
Kelly Modlin; Army Contracting Command, Aberdeen Proving Ground

Innovation in Contracting Strategies Individual or Organization Award
Robotic Combat Vehicle Product Management Office; Program Executive Office, Ground Combat Systems

Product Management/Product Director Office Team of the Year Award (O-5 Level)
Product Manager Soldier Weapons; Program Executive Office Soldier

Project Management/Project Director Office Team of the Year Award (O-6 Level)
Project Manager Intelligence Systems and Analytics; Program Executive Office Intelligence, Electronic Warfare and Sensors

Test Organization of the Year Award
Ronald Reagan Ballistic Missile Defense Test Site; Technical Center, Space and Missile Defense Command

Contracting Team of the Year Award
Maui Wildfire Debris Removal Team; U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Honolulu District

2024 Major General Harold J. "Harry" Greene Writing Award Winners:

Acquisition Reform

Winning Piece: "Artificial Intelligence (AI) Literacy: An Imperative Competency."
Author: Major Mathew Henderson, Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Army (Acquisition, Logistics and Technology)

Honorable Mention: "Mini Portfolio Prioritization Sprints with Overarching Integrated Product Teams (O-IPTs) - Adapting to Changes within the DOD Decision-Making System."

Author: Ms. Elizabeth Smith, Joint Program Executive Office for Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear Defense

Future Operations

Winning Piece: "Human-Machine Integration and Future Operations."
Author: Lieutenant Colonel Christian Abney, Program Executive Office Aviation

Winning Piece: "Software Independent Verification and Validation at the Speed of Relevance."
Authors: Ms. Megan Buford and Rebecca Hennessy, Ph.D., U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command, U.S. Army Futures Command

Honorable Mention: "Learning to Expand the Aperture: Translating Emergence to Capability in Medical Evacuation and Other Operational Domains."
Author: Captain Mahdi Al-Husseini, U.S. Army Department of Aviation Medicine

Innovation

Winning Piece: "Driving Innovation: Propelling the U.S. Department of Defense's Acquisition of Hybrid-Electric Tactical Vehicles to Win the Wars of Tomorrow."
Author: Major Curtis N. Cranston, The Judge Advocate General's Legal Center and School

Honorable Mention: "Bridging the Gap and the Path to Real-time Intelligence: Advancing A-ISR Through Acquisition and Innovation."
Authors: Mr. Eric Braun, Ms. Susan Tyndall, Ms. Lauren Scicchitano, and Mr. Michael Amabile, Program Executive Office for Intelligence, Electronic Warfare and Sensors

Lessons Learned

Winning Piece: "Enhancing Army Acquisition Through Collaborative Communication."
Author: Mr. Mark T. Rashford, Jr., U.S. Army North G-4

Honorable Mention: "Rethinking the Role of C2 in Army Acquisition: Lessons from FCS and DCGS-A."
Author: Colonel Matthew Paul, Program Executive Office Enterprise

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