AFLCMC-Hanscom employee gaining industry perspective Published Jan. 20, 2016 By Mark Wyatt 66th Air Base Group Public Affairs HANSCOM AIR FORCE BASE, Mass. -- A C3I and Networks Directorate program manager is in the midst of a career-broadening look at industry during a ten-month Education With Industry tour at Raytheon in Marlborough, Massachusetts. Christopher Lind, who is in his fifth month in the program, said the experience provides a different perspective from his current position, where he is assigned to the Hanscom-based Family of Advanced Beyond Line-of-Sight Terminals program. "The Education With Industry program uses a hands-on educational experience to provide students with a better understanding of how industry operates," he said. "It is a tremendous opportunity for me to gain this industry perspective." Col. Amanda Kato, FAB-T senior materiel leader, agrees. "Both Chris and the Air Force will benefit from an added perspective on government program execution - this time from the contractor's view," she said. "I was pleased when he was selected." The EWI program is a highly selective, competitive non-degree educational assignment within an industry related to the student's career field. More than 25 companies, including defense-focused companies, offer this industry experience to Air Force company grade officers and civilians in the grades of GS 11 through GS 13. "The program exposes military and civilian members to industry best practices in myriad career fields by immersing them with industry partners," Lind said. "Participants will develop an understanding of a particular industry, and are then able to better interpret Air Force needs in industry terms." Currently 32 military members and seven civilians throughout the Air Force are enrolled in the EWI program. The program runs September through June. According to the EWI Handbook, the assignment for military members involves a permanent change of station both before and after the EWI assignment. For civilian students, the assignments take place in the local area where the student currently works. The program develops future Air Force leaders with business acumen and empathy to enhance cross-functional government teams, Lind said. "Learning the multiple aspects of the company's operations will allow me to better manage government and industry teams in the future, and that will allow me to be a more effective leader for the Air Force," he said. Candidates are nominated by their supervisors and competitively selected by Air Force Personnel Center. Lind notes that the objective for each EWI student is to meet Air Force Desired Learning Objectives. "The student and industry partner tailor a work plan," he said. That work plan helps ensure the program is a success. "The program has provided me a deeper understanding of how industry works," he said. "I have been able to further develop skills necessary for effective management and professional and technical leadership." Lind believes the program would be helpful for those looking for a career-broadening challenge. "This is a great opportunity for a motivated self-starter who is looking for a chance to collaborate with others in a team environment," said Lind. According to the Civilian Developmental Education Nomination Handbook, the program is open to federal civilians in the civil engineer, communication and information, contracting, financial management, manpower, intelligence, logistics, operations, program management, public affairs and scientist and engineer career fields. Civilian candidates must have a strong education background along with superior job performance and must be endorsed by the first senior executive service (SES) member, general officer or the installation commander in their chain of command. CGOs in the cyber, logistics, civil engineer, public affairs, manpower, science, engineering, acquisition, contracting and financial management are eligible. According to the 2016 Advanced Academic Degree and Special Experience Exchange Duties Selection Process Guide, only officers with four to 12 commissioned years of service and least two years time on station will be considered. Those interested in learning more about the EWI program should visit https://www.afit.edu/cip/docs/EWI_Handbook.pdf.