ALAMO CHAPTER CHAPTER - Feb 19, 2013 |
Speaker Draws Max-Capacity Audience |
The chapter hosted keynote speaker Joseph Thele, director of the Air Force Personnel Operations Agency (AFPOA), at its February monthly luncheon. Thele's presentation on “Leveraging Enterprise IT Systems to Support the Big A Airmen” drew a near-record turnout for the chapter's monthly events—more than 140 people, filling the meeting room to capacity and forcing some to be placed on a temporary waiting list to find seats. Thele leads 310 military and civilian employees in providing agile information technology capabilities for the Air Force Personnel Directorate (AF/A1) and its supported field operations agencies. His discussion touched on the AFPOA's mission, current operating conditions and goals. In most ways, the AFPOA is considered the human resources department of the Air Force. Borrowing a phrase from author Simon Sinek, Thele said he would “start with why,” which was a reminder that the agency provides information technology services in support of the greater Air Force family, including active duty personnel, the Air National Guard, the Air Force Reserves, retirees and their families. Over the last few years, the AFPOA has initiated and managed several major projects. Its largest undertaking by far has been the consolidation of four major information technology organizations into a single, high-performance team, Thele said. In order to improve efficiency and timeliness, the AFPOA has driven several A1 enterprise information technology initiatives, such as the conversion of promotion boards to electronic records and upgrades to its human resources enterprise resource planning system. Other achievements included the launch of a myPers self-service capability and customer relationship management for airmen worldwide, the consolidation of information technology solutions for major commands, and securing PHI and PII of airmen and their families. Thele noted that the AFPOA is considered to have the best Federal Information Security Management Act (FISMA) compliance in the Air Force and has now twice received an Outstanding rating on its Cyber Command Readiness Inspection. Pressing forward, the AFPOA is planning enterprise-wide updates to the Employee Benefits Information System, Military Personnel Data System and electronic payment card systems, as well as continued data center optimization. |
Event Photographs: |
In February, Joseph Thele, director of the Air Force Personnel Operations Agency, discusses the mission, goals and current operating conditions for his agency at the chapter's monthly luncheon. |
Emily Rausch, local vice president for Young AFCEANs, accepts a token on behalf of corporate sponsor K2Share from Bill Morrow, chapter president, in February. |
Thele (l) accepts a token of appreciation from Morrow following his luncheon presentation in February. |