Avoiding information technology pitfalls and benefitting from lessons learned were discussed at the IT Professionals Networking and Social Meeting March 30 at the McNamara Headquarters Complex.
Representatives from the Defense Logistics Agency, the Defense Contract Auditing Agency, the Defense Threat and Reduction Agency, the Defense Technical Information Center and the National Capital Region Directorate of Information Management attended the meeting, which was held for the first time in three years, said Tom Michelli, DLA Enterprise Solutions executive director.
“We must learn from each other’s successes and challenges,” he said. “If one agency did a Windows upgrade to all their desktops and laptops, what lessons did they learn? This forum helps other agencies going through the same upgrade to hear from their peers and avoid the same pitfalls.”
Michelli said he’s optimistic the meeting, which used to be held regularly, will flourish again and he looks forward to watching it grow in value to the people participating and their agencies.
“With all the efficiencies requirements, the upcoming draw downs and the new budget restraint, the more we can collaborate and get economies of scale, the better it will be for all of us,” he said.
Collaboration among IT peers was not the only reason the meeting was a success. Michelli also enticed the participants with the offer of providing food.
“In the past we’ve had a chili-chili party, [an] ice-cream social and a cookie exchange,” he said. “This gets people engaged before the discussions and hopefully it will make them feel like it was a fun event to attend and they’ll continue participating in the future.”
Although the mini sandwich wraps, Irish coffee cookies and cherry-filled pancake squares looked enticing, the participants were all about IT business.
“A venue like this where IT personnel can meet and share information is extremely important,” said Army Lt. Col. Doug Henry, DLA Current Operations and Sustainment. “A lot of times we’re in the same building working on diverse projects and it would be a shame if we didn’t capitalize on the lessons learned from one another.”
The next meeting is slated to be at the McNamara Headquarters Complex, but the group agreed thsat meeting locations will vary in the future.