Larry David Leiby, retired from the Army: ‘There exists a cadre of dedicated, loyal fellow patriots — that is, civil servants and federal employees.’

I served in the Department of the Army for over 42 years as a civil servant. During my entire lengthy career, I was associated within the test and evaluation (T&E) discipline in support of the Defense Department’s materiel acquisition process.

During my 25 years as an operations research and system analyst (OR/SA), I had the responsibility of designing operational tests and analyzing the resultant credible data in support of independent system evaluations. Each operational test had the proposed system to be acquired subjected to as realistic as possible wartime environment.

The independent system evaluation addressed the proposed system’s operational effectiveness, operational suitability and survivability. The resulting independent system evaluation was presented to the Army Systems Acquisition Review Council for a decision about acquiring the system. Depending on the potential impact of the proposed system on the U.S. armed forces, the independent system evaluation would support the Defense Acquisition Board.

Up to this point of my career, two highlights were being the lead OR/SA on the Patriot air defense system and the Apache AH-64 attack helicopter. Both systems were instrumental to U.S. forces during Operation Desert Storm and Operation Iraqi Freedom.

During my last 17 years as an Army civil servant, I worked within headquarters. In this capacity, I was responsible for developing and interpreting Army test and evaluation (T&E) policy and procedures. I authorized Army Regulation 73-1 which dealt with T&E policy. Prior to my retirement, I prepared the update to the Army Pamphlet 73-1, which contains the instructions to carry all Army T&E procedures.

I was in the Pentagon on that horrendous day, Sept. 11, 2001, which has had lasting memories.

During my college years the draft was implemented. My number was so high that I was never drafted even though I had been classified as 1A. As I look back on my government career, I feel that I have completed my patriotic duty to the American people. Each American should realize that there exists a cadre of dedicated, loyal fellow patriots — civil servants and federal employees — willing to enrich their lives in so many ways.

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