FORT LEE, Va. - Defense Contract Management Agency International’s leadership transitioned from outgoing commander, Navy Rear Adm. Robert Gilbeau, to incoming acting commander, Frederick Kuhm, DCMAI deputy, during a Nov. 27 ceremony officiated by DCMA Director Charlie E. Williams, Jr. at the agency headquarters here.
During Gilbeau’s 27-month tenure, he commanded an organization of civilian and military personnel responsible for administering more than 43,000 contracts valued in excess of $130 billion.
Williams presented Gilbeau with the Defense Superior Service Medal, the Afghanistan Campaign Medal and the NATO Medal at the ceremony.
“He was able to sort through the myriad of challenges, deliver on the mission and successfully lead DCMAI forward the last two years,” Williams said about the course Gilbeau steered while at the DCMAI helm. “He has been a phenomenal leader.”
Gilbeau’s leadership sustained direct support to Operation Iraqi Freedom, Operation Enduring Freedom, Operation New Dawn and a wide range of major defense and federal acquisition programs including DCMA’s contingency contracting administrative services mission in theater operations throughout Iraq and Afghanistan. His strategic engagement sustained contract services support in the successful Department of Defense transition to Department of State in Iraq.
“You’re delivering safe, high-quality products our armed forces – our soldiers, sailors, Marines and airmen – are going to be able to use,” Gilbeau said. “Our team has a passion to do things right, to do them by the book and to do them within contractual guidelines.”
Gilbeau’s previous shore assignments include deputy commander for aviation at the Naval Inventory Control Point-Philadelphia; instructor at Naval Transportation Management School; director of Material, Fleet and Industrial Supply Center Guam; director of Navy and Marine Corps Aircraft Engine Programs at NAVICP (Naval Inventory Control Point); deputy assistant chief of staff for logistics, commander, Naval Air Forces; Material Support Integration Program manager, COMFISCs (Commander, Fleet and Industrial Supply Centers) and head of Aviation Material Support for Chief of National Operations Air Warfare Directorate.
His operational and afloat tours include assistant to supply officer, USS Guadalcanal; supply officer, USS Harry W. Hill; assistant supply officer, USS Boxer; supply officer, USS Nimitz; crisis action team leader – Tsunami Relief and deputy commander and chief of staff for the Joint Contracting Command – Iraq and Afghanistan.
He is a designated Naval Aviation and Surface Warfare Supply Corps officer and a member of the Acquisition Professional Corps.
A native of Fremont, Calif., Gilbeau is a graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy, Naval Supply Corps School, Naval Transportation Management School, Naval War College, Naval Postgraduate School, University of Michigan’s Ross School of Business Executive Program and University of North Carolina’s Kenan-Flagler Logistic Technologies for Executives program.
His awards include the Legion of Merit (two awards), Bronze Star, Purple Heart, Meritorious Service Medal (four awards), Navy Commendation Medal (five awards), Navy Achievement Medal (five awards), Combat Action Ribbon and multiple campaign and unit awards.
Prior to serving as the DCMAI deputy, Kuhm was the agency’s Office of Independent Assessment executive director. OIA is responsible for assessing agency-wide operations, performance, administrative processes and internal controls. He also served as the agency’s Special Programs Division deputy director. This division is responsible for providing acquisition life cycle contract management support for classified Department of Defense contracts.
“I have seen Fred in action over the last few years,” said Williams as he welcomed Kuhm. “I am very confident he has what it takes to continue to lead the DCMAI team forward to accomplish the mission and ensure the needs of our customers are met.”
Kuhm is a member of the Defense Acquisition Corps with Level III certifications in both contracting, and budgeting and financial management. He received a Bachelor of Science from the University of Arizona and was awarded a Master of Business Administration from San Diego State University. He also has attended advanced education programs at the Kellogg School of Management, Northwestern University and the Federal Executive Institute.
“Admiral Gilbeau, it has been an honor to work on the DCMAI team as your deputy this past year,” Kuhm said. “I truly appreciate all the first-hand knowledge, experiences and insight you gave me on the Middle East and Southwest Asia theaters. This will be invaluable as I fill in as acting commander for the immediate future.”
Kuhm is a retired Navy Supply Corps officer. He served as supply officer on both the USS Seattle and the USS Haddock and as stock control officer and submarine supply support officer on the USS McKee. His shore assignments include Office of Special Projects commanding officer, Washington, DC; Defense Logistics Agency executive officer, Fort Belvoir, Va.; executive assistant to the deputy chief of naval operations for Fleet Readiness and Logistics (OPNAV N4); contracting officer tours at both the Naval Sea Systems Command and the Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command; and business and financial manager for the Standard Missile Program. Kuhm attained Supply Corps warfare qualifications in both surface warfare and submarines.
Date Taken: | 11.30.2012 |
Date Posted: | 12.18.2012 14:06 |
Story ID: | 99503 |
Location: | FORT LEE, VIRGINIA, US |
Web Views: | 960 |
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