8 questions with Balinda Moreland

“I leverage technology so the Army can execute better, stronger and faster,” said Balinda Moreland, technical management division chief for the Defense Integrated Business Systems program within PEO EIS’s Business Mission Area. “I like to compare my job to ‘The Six Million Dollar Man,’ an old TV series about using technology to build the world’s first bionic man — better, stronger and faster than he was before.”

Born in Ohio, Moreland married her high school sweetheart and earned a bachelor’s degree while raising three young children. A trailblazer, she was the first African American woman to graduate from Christopher Newport University with a bachelor’s degree in computer engineering. With 21 years of civil-service experience under her belt, Moreland is a powerful Army change agent and currently spearheads a PEO EIS initiative to consolidate enterprise tools.

We asked Moreland, today’s #PEOEISTeammateTuesday, eight questions about her career and life.

Why did you decide to major in computer engineering?
I wanted to be a nurse because I could get through nursing school quickly. To prepare for the nursing exam, I took a Calculus I class at a community college. Dr. Naismith, a female professor, recognized that I was very good at calculus. She asked me to tutor Calculus I students. She thought I would make a very good engineer and recommended that I enroll in an engineering course.

Who inspires you?
Every day, I am inspired to make life better for the warfighter.

The military community is near and dear to me. My husband retired from the Navy. I have a son in the Air Force. Technically he’s my son-in-law, but I don’t do in-laws because once you are in my family, you are in. I also have two nephews and one niece serving in the military.

What inspired you to start your career with the Army?
After I graduated with a bachelor’s degree in computer engineering, I had six employment offers. The Navy offered me a huge signing bonus.

The Army’s offer was the lowest paid, but it provided me the opportunity to become a flight-test engineer. During the interview, the Army gave me a CD that I took home and showed to my husband. He was excited that I would have the opportunity to work with Blackhawks and Apaches. My husband said, “You have to take that job.” My husband jokes that it was the one time I actually listened to him. I supported the Army aviation community for 10 years.

What is the best advice you received?
Col. Carmona said, "The best engineers always remember who their customer is." Great engineers think like the people they are developing for. It’s not about how you would do it as an engineer because that might involve 50 steps.

Always get customers engaged as soon as possible because they are the ones who are actually going to use it — not you.

What is the enterprise-tools initiative?
Two years ago, we identified common enterprise-resource-planning tools used across PEO EIS’s six portfolios. These tools were purchased on several different contracts. We will consolidate the tools on one contract. If everyone is on the same contract, we achieve cost savings. We will also standardize the way the tools are used. Some tools have multiple capabilities. Are we taking advantage of all of those capabilities? If we standardize the way we use the tools, we reduce our operational and sustainment costs.

It's like consolidating cellphone plans. Three people may be spending $100 a month for three separate phone plans. If we consolidate under a family plan, we may reduce the cost from $300 to $225. We also create efficiencies by using the same features.

What have you learned the hard way?
I am very technical. As an engineer, it’s important to be able to explain complex, technical concepts in a manner that budget, contracting and operations staff can easily grasp. If they don’t understand it, they won’t know why it’s important to fund it.

Why have you been successful in your career?
I have always been about stepping outside of the box and learning new things. I never limit myself.

I get up every day and am the best person I can be, and help where I can help.

If you could thank one person for the role they played in your life, who would it be and why?
I was blessed to meet my husband at a very young age. My husband always encourages me and keeps me humble. He helped me become who I am today.