Mentoring Moments: Pathways to SES

Overall Series Description: 

"Mentoring Moments" is a mentorship web series hosted by Ms. Lisa P. Smith, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Product Support. Each webinar will focus on different areas of career development and talent management featuring special guest panelists.  Join us to hear mentoring tips and ask questions to Department of Defense leadership!

Description:

"Ms. Lisa P. Smith, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Product Support, will chair a joint panel of Senior Executive Service (SES) members. This webinar will highlight various career paths taken by SES panel members to achieve executive level success.  SES panel members will discuss their own experiences within their respective career field and offer advice to those aspiring to become an SES member. Join us for this webinar to determine if becoming an SES member is right for you!"

Moderator:

Ms. Lisa P. Smith, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense, OSD

Ms. Lisa P. Smith, a member of the Senior Executive Service, is the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Product Support and serves as the principal advisor to the Office of the Secretary of Defense (OSD) leadership on policies, procedures, and actions related to the readiness and sustainability of major weapon systems. She is responsible for the development and implementation of acquisition and sustainment strategies and processes providing the Warfighter with cost-effective weapon system readiness across the life cycle. In addition, Ms. Smith coordinates and synchronizes ASD(S) international and partner engagements. She also manages the logistics and acquisition workforce for the Department of Defense.  She assumed her current position in April 2021. 

Panelists:

James P. Woolsey, President, Defense Acquisition University

Mr. Woolsey is President of the Defense Acquisition University (DAU), a position he has held since January 2014. In that role, he is responsible for delivery of learning products through the DAU regions, the Defense Systems Management College, and the College of Contract Management; curriculum development; online learning programs; learning technology; and library services for a major Department of Defense corporate university. DAU, strategically located within five geographical regions across the country and servicing a global workforce, provides practitioner training, career management, and services to enable the acquisition, technology, and logistics community to make smart business decisions and deliver timely and affordable capabilities to the Warfighter.

Dr. Vic S. Ramdass, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense (Materiel Readiness), OSD

Dr. Vic S. Ramdass, a member of the Senior Executive Service since 2009, is the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Materiel Readiness. In this capacity he serves as the principal advisor to the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Sustainment in the oversight of the Department's $90 billion maintenance program. He is also responsible for the development of policies and procedures to ensure the Department meets statutory requirements to provide core depot level maintenance support of major weapon systems, military equipment, and commodities. He assumed his current position in March 2021.

Clothilda (Clo) Taylor, Director, Business Operations  

After serving 5 years (June 2016 – August 2021) as the Executive Director of the Strategic Learning, Development and Engagement Office and Chief Learning and Engagement Officer in the Office of the Chief Human Capital Officer.   Mrs. Taylor, has returned to Department of Defense to succeed in the role as the Director in Business Operations.  She will work closely with USD(A&S) in developing acquisitions and sustainability production of the outlined functions: information management, data requirements, data delivery standards, AcqDemo/Senior Executive personnel management and budget management to name a few. 

Dr. Keith Hardiman, Director Information Management, Air Force

Dr. Keith Hardiman, a member of the Senior Executive Service, is the Director, Headquarters Air Force (HAF) Information Management, Office of the Administrative Assistant to the Secretary of the Air Force, Washington, D.C., and the Headquarters Air Force Chief Information Officer and liaison to the Pentagon Architecture Council. He also manages the Air Force Declassification Office, Air Force Publications Distribution Office, and Headquarters Air Force Multimedia Services.  His leadership responsibilities include the HAF's Records Management, Freedom of Information Act, and Privacy Act Programs, and information technology policy and portfolio compliance.

Event Survey: https://eval.dau.edu/jfe/form/SV_ePOtI66PnOCGn2K?EventID=356