Acquisition Strategies in Legacy Modernization

Lawrence (Larry) Hale is the Deputy Assistant Commissioner for Category Management within the Office of Information Technology Category (ITC) in GSA’s Federal Acquisition Service (FAS). The Federal Acquisition Service provides buying platforms and acquisition services to Federal, State, and Local governments for a broad range of items from office supplies to motor vehicles to information technology and telecommunications products and services. As an organization within FAS, ITC provides access to a wide range of commercial and custom IT products, services, and solutions.

In this role, Mr. Hale provides executive leadership over a broad portfolio that customer agencies use to buy nearly $34 billion in IT products and services. These solutions include the Government-wide Acquisition Contracts (GWACs): Alliant 2, VETS 2, and 8(a) STARS III. His portfolio also includes the IT Multiple Award Schedule, Enterprise Infrastructure Solutions (EIS) and the USAccess shared services program. Larry’s guidance and oversight of the category teams ensure that GSA continues to play a critical role in the Administration’s IT modernization efforts to drive a more efficient and effective government for the American people.

Mr. Hale has held several diverse positions within ITC: Acting Director, IT Services subcategory; Director, IT Security subcategory; Director, Customer Engagement Division.

Mr. Hale was Chief Information Security Officer of Affiliated Computer Services, a Fortune 500 Information Technology company. Previously, he led the transition of the Federal Computer Incident Response Center, (FedCIRC) from GSA into DHS, where he served as Deputy Director of the National Cyber Security Division’s Computer Emergency Readiness Team (US-CERT).

Michael D. Parrish was appointed Chief Acquisition Officer and Principal Executive Director for the Office of Acquisition, Logistics, and Construction (OALC) on March 1, 2021. He serves as senior most advisor to the Secretary, providing policy and oversight for all of the Department’s acquisition activities. He leads VA’s 17,000 acquisition professionals and is responsible for the procurement budget of $40 billion as well as the administration and oversight of approximately $100 billion in major programs. Additionally, he manages VA’s $22 billion major construction and leasing program to support the largest integrated health care system in the United States, providing care at 1,255 health care facilities to over 9 million Veterans enrolled in the VA health care program.

Mr. Parrish has over 37 years of senior leadership experience in military, government, corporate, and non-profit organizations. Prior to joining the Department of Veterans Affairs, he served as Professor of Practice/Senior Advisor of Systems Engineering at the United States Military Academy at West Point. Mr. Parrish has been Chairman & CEO of several publicly traded companies and was founder and CEO for multiple Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Businesses. Additionally, he held executive leadership positions for several General Electric (GE) companies where he served as General Manager for global logistics and services for GE’s Water business, and as Managing Director for GE Capital specializing in ecommerce, six sigma, and productivity of several GE’s equipment management groups.

A retired Colonel, Mr. Parrish served for 14 years on active duty and 21 years in the U.S. Army Reserves as a Senior Army Aviator and Army Acquisition Corps Officer, serving as an Air Operations Officer during Desert Storm. He graduated from the United States Military Academy in 1985 and holds a Master’s Degree in Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering from Stanford University as well as an MBA with Honors from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania. He is also a graduate of The Air War College and is DAWIA Level III certified in Program Management. Mr. Parrish is the past President of the West Point Society of Philadelphia and has served on the advisory boards of the American Society for Engineering Management, Delaware Valley Industrial Resources Center, USO of Southeast Pennsylvania/New Jersey and the United States Military Academy at West Point.