REDSTONE ARSENAL, Ala. -- As military operational tempo remains high, the leaders across the Army’s primary logistics and sustainment command should remain nested to meet changing requirements and priorities. That was the message from Army Materiel Command’s Commander Gen. Gus Perna to the leadership teams of AMC’s major subordinate commands at the semiannual Commanders Forum, Feb. 5-6.
“If we come together, are moving in the same direction, focused on the right priorities and applying the right leadership, we will get the things done we need to get done,” Perna said. “We have some things we have to do, collectively, to synchronize the capabilities of Army Materiel Command. As individual commands, we will not succeed; it is our collective effort that makes the difference.”
Significant players in that collective effort are the MSC’s deputy commanders, who attended the forum for the first time. Perna said they play an essential role to ensuring command consistency.
“The deputies are the backbone to our success. They help us stabilize, internalize and drive the workforce to the output that we desire,” he said about the civilian leaders. “They will be the ones who serve as a bridge between commanders, and will keep momentum going.”
That bridge is important as Army leaders and commanders at all levels constantly move, rotate and retire after short durations.
“I want to solidify the role and responsibilities of the deputy within Army Materiel Command to ensure consistency in leadership and mission success,” Perna said.
He said consistent leadership is essential as AMC undergoes major restructuring and mission changes, including the transition of Army Materiel Systems Analysis Activity and Research, Development and Engineering Command to Army Futures Command effective Feb. 3; the reassignment of the Medical Research and Materiel Command to AMC effective Oct. 1, 2018; and AMC taking a larger role in installation management.
During these changes, Perna challenged the leaders not to lose sight of the mission. Commanders and deputies must continue to work together with their staffs to ensure they can see themselves.
“We have to continually look at how are we operationalizing, integrating and synchronizing your individual capabilities to meet combatant command requirements and secretary of the Army and chief of staff of the Army priorities,” Perna said. “There is a lot going on and our workforce and you are doing a great job, but we have a long way to go to get into the end zone.”