A Study of Army Civilian Entry Level and Mid-Level Program Management Leadership Development

Abstract

Abstract : Leadership development is crucial to an organizations continued success and growth. Creating a leadership pipeline filled with competent, trained, educated, and experienced civilian acquisition leaders from the entry level and mid-grade level positions is an important responsibility for senior leaders. Mentoring and coaching entry level and mid-grade level professionals could be the one of most important things senior leaders do to develop civilian leaders within their organizations. Creating a unified civilian acquisition program management leader development policy, plan, and detailed roadmap for entry level and mid-grade level civilian leaders will detangle the web of leader development. The research examined commercial and government research papers, periodicals, studies, reports, and Department of Army documents associated with leader or acquisition workforce development. The focus of the research was on leader and leadership development processes and practices pertaining to entry level and mid-grade level positions. The US Army overarching leadership strategy and planning documents parallel the commercial sector, however, the Army has multiple stakeholders for civilian leadership development. Multiple entities focused on education, training, and experience sometimes intersect and do not merge to create a comprehensive, unified program management leader development policy, plan, and detailed roadmap. Gaps exist in Army entry level and mid-grade level civilian acquisition leader development such as not actively managing civilian experiential assignments, leadership training, or providing mentors and coaches for acquisition workforce members.