Rising Star: Michelle Walker

After the Army had invested $4 billion in its enterprise resource planning systems, officials decided they must improve the way the service integrates the systems’ logistics and business applications. They formed a team to analyze the technology, and Michelle Walker, a chief of acquisition management for the Army, quickly became its linchpin. In only 45 days, Walker helped complete an intensive analysis that provided a framework for future business process improvements across other information technology systems.The team also found a more efficient and effective technical approach to improve cross-domain processes among four logistics and finance systems. Walker developed a communications plan that helped senior Army and Defense Department officials understand and approve the team’s approach to integrating the business systems. During the study, Walker established efficient processes to consolidate and communicate the analysis to Army and DOD decision-makers. She also created an acquisition approach to achieve the new program direction and vision.