PEO EIS’s First Participant in Enhanced Command Prep Program Gears Up for New Role

By this summer, the first Army civilian to participate in PEO EIS’s Enhanced Command Preparation (ECP) program — organized in collaboration with the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Acquisition, Logistics and Technology (ASA(ALT)) — will graduate and assume command of a project management office (PMO) at EIS.

Kevin Curry, former product director for EIS’s Army Human Resource Systems, was “first in queue” for the new career training program put in place by Program Executive Officer Ross Guckert. As one of Guckert’s priority talent management initiatives, the tailored training program for civilian and military workforce members is designed to help upward-moving acquisition leaders acquire all the knowledge and real-world experience necessary to hit the ground running when they assume a project management position at EIS.

“The ECP program is absolutely essential for leaders entering our portfolio, or a new position within the portfolio, as it equips them with the unique knowledge and skills to be effective and successful on day one," said Guckert, adding that the complexity of EIS's portfolio had made this challenging in the past.

Because Curry already has Senior Service College and mandatory executive-level program manager training courses under his belt, he only requires one year of additional preparation for taking over as project manager of EIS’s Defense Integrated Business Systems (DIBS) PMO. Other program participants may spend up to three years in command training, including at the Eisenhower School for National Security and Resource Strategy, or at the Army War College.

Last fall, EIS detailed Curry in a developmental assignment to ASA(ALT)’s mission command, where he serves alongside Department of the Army system coordinators (DASCs). Over the past several months, he has been getting a deep dive in ASA(ALT) and Pentagon processes, attending DASC University, and participating in senior leader meetings between EIS and PEO Command, Control and Communications – Tactical. He also has been brushing up on the budgeting process and congressional affairs — reviewing the program, planning, budget and execution process for building program objective memorandums.

“It has been very educational,” said Curry, noting that the next step is preparing the presentation of program budget briefs to professional staff members on Capitol Hill.

While much of Curry’s training has been virtual — much like the rest of the EIS workforce — he is heading to Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, soon for a brigade pre-command course. Then, in March, he will participate in the DOD’s Public Private Talent Exchange Program for training with industry. Specifically, Curry will join a global professional services company for executive leadership training, enterprise resource planning software training useful for his future DIBS role, and insight into the business-to-business world. This industry training experience will likely last right up until Curry gets ready to assume the charter for DIBS from current Project Manager Col. Donald Burton — tentatively this June.

Overall, Curry is enthusiastic about his experience with EIS’s ECP program. Calling it a “great idea” that’s been needed for some time, he said that EIS leadership has ironed out some initial bumps and that he expects to get a lot out of his participation.

“It lets you take a breather from what you were previously doing but also to focus on what you believe is important to doing your next job,” said Curry.

Training opportunities are just one of the perks that Curry likes about life at EIS, where he’s been employed for the past seven years. Mostly it’s the people.

“What I love about working here is that it’s one big family,” said Curry. “I’ve been in three different offices, and every time I’ve moved to a different program, I’ve always been welcomed and considered part of the team on day one.”

When Curry assumes his new role with DIBS next summer, another aspiring EIS project manager, Brian Raftery, will be waiting in the wings, kicking off the second year of his two-year command training program before taking over as project manager of EIS’s Army Data and Analytics Program in summer 2023.