PEO discusses initiatives and changes at EIS during AFCEA luncheon

Chérie Smith, program executive officer for Enterprise Information Systems (EIS), kicked off the Armed Forces Communications and Electronic Association (AFCEA) Fort Belvoir chapter monthly luncheon series on Sept. 25, 2019 at the Fort Belvoir Officers Club. Smith opened her speech by outlining her priorities for the upcoming year, naming the annual AFCEA Belvoir Industry Day as a priority event for PEO EIS.

For the past two years, the industry day has been a signature event for PEO EIS, with heavy participation from across the organization. Smith explained that events like industry day are vital for an organization like PEO EIS, as they provide an opportunity for leaders to meet with industry representatives that they do not always get to see. Smith said that meeting with a diverse range of industry benefits organizations like PEO EIS, saying, “I want to get a diversity of ideas, I want an understanding of what the art of the possible is out there.” She also discussed the need for honesty between the Army and industry partners, saying, “I want you as informed and capable a partner as I can make you.”

Smith went on to discuss major initiatives ongoing at PEO EIS, starting with Enterprise IT as a Service, attesting that the Army is excited about the initiative. She stated that there are certain things that the Army does that are vital core capabilities and make it the best in the world. So, when looking at something “as a service,” part of the evaluation is figuring out if it is a core capability. As Smith explained, “running the IT at an installation should not be an Army core capability. We should have our Soldiers training on what they’re going to use when they go into the field… If we can get [enterprise IT] as a service, then why wouldn’t we want to do that?”

Smith ended her remarks by discussing two new O-6 offices that PEO EIS plans to stand up, one focused on data and one focused on enterprise resource planning (ERP) sustainment. Within the next year, Army Enterprise Systems Integration Program will transition to a program office focused on data. The office, to be called Army Data and Analytic Platforms, is intended ensure the Army’s enterprise IT systems are appropriately focused on data. Next, General Fund Enterprise Business System (GFEBS) will transition to a program focused on ERP sustainment and will remain under the leadership of GFEBS project manager Col. Donald Burton. Part of the reasoning to make these changes is to appropriately align the program names with the work the programs are doing. The aim is to better guide industry partners to what is going on inside the O-6 portfolio with more intuitive program office names.