AIMO embraces forward thinking through collaboration

Courtesy Photo | Marjorie Heilweil (left), Aircraft Integrated Maintenance Operations executive steering board point of contact, and Beth Rairigh-Coronado, Defense Contract Management Agency AIMO Kelly deputy commander, conducted training during a recent Tier II Leadership Workshop at AIMO St. Augustine.  

ST. AUGUSTINE, FL, UNITED STATES

07.20.2015

Courtesy Story

Defense Contract Management Agency

ST. AUGUSTINE, Fla. - Aircraft Integrated Maintenance Operations is passionate about developing future leaders, leadership competencies and applicable skill sets. Leadership is vital to mission success, career growth and ability to support customers’ needs. In light of this, AIMO is committed to improving upon the program’s already successful headquarters framework.

In September, senior leaders from the seven Defense Contract Management Agency AIMO tertiary commands discussed combining local contract management office programs that maintained a limited number of people into a centralized program. The benefits included an opportunity to substantially increase the number of participants, gain additional team member exposure to AIMO senior leadership, amplify internal communication to positively impact idea sharing and project insight, and develop at least one leadership workshop annually.

Targeting senior commitment, AIMO established an executive steering board consisting of all CMO deputy commanders, an alternate for each representative and an overall program point of contact. Seven months later, the program now has 21 participants spanning six offices.

The virtual environment created to address location disparity and large number of participants created challenges. They have been overcome, however, with monthly meetings where a segment of the group makes presentations. The board sets up video teleconferences or a conference call line at all locations. Additionally, a mentor group has been established and all members receive guidance to execute plans. For items like reviewing development plans, approving projects and aiding in rotational assignments, board members at each location have increased involvement with local participants.

This year’s crowning AIMO achievement was the Tier II Leadership Workshop held recently at AIMO St. Augustine. This provided team members an opportunity to conduct team-building and leadership exercises, and host an interactive management panel.

The development of a Tier II AIMO guidebook may have been the most important accomplishment, however. The guidebook contains all the forms to participate in the program, a program explanation, flow charts, a program plan and self-assessments. Marjorie Heilweil, executive steering board point of contact, and Beth Rairigh-Coronado, AIMO Kelly deputy commander, conducted training throughout the workshop.

In addition to the guidebook, all attendees received the book, “A Year with Peter Drucker - 52 weeks of Coaching & Leadership Effectiveness.” Steve Swenson, AIMO deputy commander, took a course with Drucker, who is considered a management guru and found him to be the most memorable and influential force of his management training. The plan is to complete the 52-week course over the year and have Tier II teams present their assigned course at each monthly meeting.

AIMO continues to refine and improve the program and looks forward to continued success and developing future leaders.

• Date Taken: 07.20.2015
• Date Posted: 07.20.2015 09:33
• Story ID: 170518
• Location: ST. AUGUSTINE, FL, US