WASHINGTON –
Army Lt. Gen. David Bassett, director of the Defense Contract Management Agency, signed a Memorandum of Agreement with Army Lt. Gen. Jody Daniels, Army Reserve Command commanding general, at the Pentagon March 31.
“Integrating reserve capabilities into DCMA makes us more agile and responsive,” said Bassett. “Without our reservists, we could not meet the increasing demands of our national defense priorities.”
The MOA’s purpose is to reestablish the functions, relationships, arrangements, terms, and conditions between the contracting agency and the Army Reserve Command to optimize mission effectiveness. This significant milestone codifies the importance of the relationship between DCMA and the Army Reserve.
“The MOA solidifies and reinvigorates DCMA and the Army Reserve’s primary mission, which is to support the agency as the Department of Defense’s component that works directly with defense suppliers to help ensure DOD, federal, and allied government supplies and services are delivered on time, at projected cost, and meet all performance requirements,” said Army Reserve Sgt. Maj. Tina Brown, who is the DCMA Army Reserve Element senior enlisted advisor.
According to Brown, DCMA’s Army Reserve Element provides support to the agency throughout the acquisition life cycle and provides combat support, as well as contingency contract management support. Army reservists will continue to assist with missions that include supply chain intervention; aircraft flight test acceptance and delivery; acquisition contract management services, industrial base capability analysis; initial response team; and liaison support.
“Acquisition is a team sport, and we need everyone in the game,” said Air Force Chief Master Sgt. Adam Rising, senior enlisted advisor to DCMA’s director. “Our DCMA reservists are trusted team members who add critical value to our mission and customers. This MOA ensures our DCMA Army Reserve Element soldiers are on the field.”
The Army Reserve Elements are specialized units established to provide augmentation support to commands and agencies outside the Army service level. DCMA’s Army Reserve Element consists of 71 acquisition professionals, including 52 officers and 19 non-commissioned officers. The specialized unit also includes a DCMA headquarters’ element with a commander and a senior enlisted advisor based at Fort Lee, Virginia.
The Army Reserve Element is organized into the four geographical regions that correspond with DCMA’s east, west, central, and international regional commands. Brown said she is “proud that DCMA’s Army Reserve Element provides operational control to the agency and administration control to the Army Reserve Sustainment Command.”
In addition to Daniels and Brown, additional Army Reserve senior leaders, including Army Brig. Gen. Stephanie Howard, who is the ARSC commanding general, make sure both organizations work well together in providing support to our nation’s warfighters.
“This MOA provides a way forward to establish a firm foundation to help synchronize processes and procedures that will facilitate mission success between these entities,” said Brown.