WSMR holds its final Defense Acquisition Leadership Certificate Course of the year developing WSMR workforce

WSMR holds its final Defense Acquisition Leadership Certificate Course of the year developing WSMR workforce

WHITE SANDS MISSILE RANGE, N.M. (November 25, 2024) – White Sands Missile Range leadership held its final Defense Acquisition Leadership Certificate Course created by Chieftain Elite Consulting which is sponsored by New Mexico State University’s Physical Science Lab to support a robust DoD workforce development pipeline on the installation.

The curriculum was developed by the Course Director, Ross Davidson, CEO of Chieftain Elite Consulting, by collaborating with WSMR leadership, NMSU PSL, and NMSU Global Campus. The course facilitates professional development in high-performing WSMR employees along with project and internship opportunities for university students which strengthens the holistic partnerships between the installation and local university campus.

"The DALC program is a partnership between the New Mexico State University Physical Science Lab and White Sands Missile Range. Conducted by the world-class training mentors from Chieftain Elite Consulting, DALC demonstrates a commitment to developing a highly skilled civilian workforce. By emphasizing professional leadership development, the program equips individuals with the tools to navigate complex challenges, fostering effective communication, and contribute to mission success. Investing in civilian leaders ensures the Department of Defense and White Sands Missile Range remains adaptable and resilient in the face of evolving demands," said Josh Moon, Student Programs Operations Officer, NMSU Physical Science Lab.

“The DALC course is vital to improving and retaining our talented civilian teammates.  Knowledge is power. We will continue empowering our teammates,” said WSMR Commander General George C. Turner.

“A quote from ‘The Advantage’ by Patrick Lencioni states, ‘The single greatest advantage any company can achieve is organizational health.’ I believe this to be true. Which is why I am excited to provide an opportunity for our workforce to learn and practice the skills necessary to help improve it. This course has helped participants learn how to build trust and high-performing teams through effective communication and uniting the team around a common purpose or goal. I am grateful for the partnerships we have to be able to deliver this high-quality event and am equally grateful to the workforce for taking the time to invest in themselves and our organizations,” said WSMR Test Center Technical Director Tristan Gilbert.

PSL is the applied research arm at NMSU and serves as a defense contractor with federal agencies and STEM companies. PSL has supported the DALC certificate program at WSMR as part of a larger effort to build out a robust workforce pipeline.

WSMR has remained a natural option for supporting NMSU’s experimental design and piloting efforts in support of the newly created Defense Civilian Training Corps program. The DCTC’s efforts in developing civilian professional training are projected to expand to over 20 sponsoring academic institutions over the next several years in partnership with DoD agencies.