New C2ISR deputy director puts emphasis on skills

  • Published
  • By Patty Welsh
  • 66th Air Base Group Public Affairs
HANSCOM AIR FORCE BASE, Mass. --  The new deputy director for the Command and Control, Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (C2ISR) Directorate encourages civilian employees to start looking at their careers differently.

"We're in changing times, especially when it comes to acquisition, and individuals have to be flexible," said Albert Griggs Jr. "Today, often an individual is associated with a program and for the future, I want that person to think, 'I am ESC [Electronic Systems Center]' and be able to apply their skills to any program in the Center."

Mr. Griggs is an expert in bringing his skills to new places. Throughout his career and especially since being a part of the Air Force's Civilian Strategic Leader Program, he has moved 10 times, and has held roles encompassing logistics, requirements, program management and more. He began this new position at ESC on July 8.

CSLP gives qualified GS-14s and 15s career broadening opportunities in challenging roles to prepare them for senior leadership, and especially for senior executive service, or SES, positions.

Mr. Griggs feels that his experience from the CSLP has prepared him well for his new role as deputy director. Three specific positions he mentioned were working in the office of the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Acquisition, being a congressional fellow and serving as a special assistant to Gen. Phil Breedlove, at the time a lieutenant general and commander of the 3rd Air Force.

"In those positions, I worked cooperatively with a number of different people; the positions helped me gain skills in communicating, negotiating and the ability to work through complicated issues," he said. "Also, the position with General Breedlove allowed me to see how a three-star manages, and I learned a lot from that experience."

He also brings some programmatic knowledge with him.

"Over the years, it seems like I have been associated with ESC programs everywhere."

When Mr. Griggs first came into government, he worked at the Space and Missile Systems Center in California and worked on space systems and then strategic defense when the Air Force was in charge of it. After, he worked at Air Force Logistics Command and helped with the upgrade of the Integrated Tactical Warning and Attack Assessment system. Following, he held positions at Air Force Materiel Command and Air Force Space Command where he touched ESC in some manner. He has even worked on space sensors for ESC previously, at Peterson Air Force Base, Colo. And at SAF/AQ, he was working with the Command and Control and Combat Support portfolio.

"The advantage to all that is now I'm comfortable touching all these programs," he said.

As deputy director, Mr. Griggs is hoping to work to complete the goals Steve Wert, C2ISR program executive officer and director, set forth in making the directorate more efficient and effective.

"I want to help make HS [C2ISR Directorate] an even higher-performing organization," Mr. Griggs said. "And I want our organization to work to help make ESC better, turn it into that world-class acquisition center."

As Mr. Griggs just recently completed studies at the Air War College, an immediate focus is on the warfighter.

I want us to be able to satisfy our user, especially during this period of war," he said. "We need to be able to turn items around quickly, get the product out the door and into the hands of the warfighter as fast as we are able."

The previous deputy director, Tom Powis, has moved on to a new role in the Cyber/Netcentric Directorate where he will be the organizational senior functional for Program Management.

"Over my transition period, I've learned that I have big shoes to fill. Tom is a highly respected leader, center-wide, with a tremendous amount of acquisition experience," said Mr. Griggs. "Tom built strong working relationships by taking the time to communicate clearly and effectively across all levels of the C2ISR Directorate. My goal is to further develop and leverage these relationships in our day-to-day mission execution. The Cyber/NetCentric Directorate is gaining a true professional, and I wish Tom the best of luck in his new position."