Hanscom employee wins DoD-level achievement award

  • Published
  • By Patty Welsh
  • 66th Air Base Group Public Affairs
HANSCOM AIR FORCE BASE, Mass. --  Perry Hill, director of Logistics and Product Support Manager for the Space, Aerial and Nuclear Networks Division, was recently awarded the 2013 Undersecretary of Defense (Acquisition, Technology and Logistics) Workforce Achievement Award for lifecycle logistics.

The Workforce Achievement Award program recognizes individuals who have demonstrated excellence in the acquisition of products and services for the Department of Defense. It began in 2010.

"Mr. Hill is truly deserving of this award as he tackled an incredibly diverse acquisition-logistics landscape throughout the C3I&N portfolio," said Col. Anthony W. Genatempo, Division senior materiel leader. "We're proud that not only the Air Force, but the DoD is cognizant of his accomplishments."

Among Hill's many achievements was his uncommon product-support leadership while driving sustainment solutions across multiple acquisition teams. The teams were comprised of more than 800 personnel supporting 30 acquisition programs in categories I, II and III and three Joint Urgent Operational Need acquisition programs. These programs are valued at more than $4 billion over the Future Years Defense Plan.

According to Genatempo, it is Hill's willingness to take on and succeed at all challenges that make him deserving.

Hill said he was "absolutely surprised" to be the winner.

"There are so many awesome people achieving great things for the customer - the warfighter out in the field - to be recognized among them is pretty cool."

According to his nomination package, Hill pushed to deliver combat ready systems that balanced cost and capability, including lifecycle sustainment. This led to the delivery of a series of critical combat capabilities for the combatant commands, while protecting taxpayer dollars.

"Perry has a highly honed ability to not only see the tactical challenges facing our warfighters, but the ability to translate them to a strategic context where senior leaders can use that information to affect change over a much greater area," said Genatempo.

Hill also implemented vital new training. Realizing that there were shortfalls with regard to the development of the logistics workforce, he developed a unique monthly academic and leadership development program to grow and expand critically needed skillsets. And he did that not only for his own division, but for logisticians assigned to varying directorates.

He also looked to build, refine and improve processes across his directorate and throughout the Life Cycle Management Center and the Air Force Materiel Command. Due to the reorganization at AFMC, Hill and his team at Hanscom had to deconstruct and map more than 100 sustainment processes to identify and mitigate issues and risks prior to LCMC's initial operating capability, which they did with great success. Hill also developed a bridge between acquisition, development and sustainment organizations that is now highlighted as a center "best practice."

"Clearly, Mr. Hill's contributions are not limited to just our division," said Genatempo. "His impact reaches out across the directorates and centers, which ultimately leads to the strengthening of those organizations and the program executive offices."

Hill attended the official ceremony in Washington, D.C. last month to receive his award.

"It was great to see the entire community come together and to be recognized, not only by the Air Force and Dr. LaPlante (principal deputy, assistant secretary of the Air Force ((Acquisition)), but by Mr. Kendall (undersecretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology and Logistics) from the DoD perspective."