Albert “Chip” Marin is the new director of the U.S. Army Engineering and Support Center, Huntsville’s Installation Support and Programs Management Directorate.
Marin took the helm of the directorate June 1.
Prior to taking the position, Marin was the ISPM Facilities Repair and Renewal/Energy Execution Program/DLA Fuels Branch chief from 2013 to May 2015.
“Chip Marin was selected for this position because of the breadth and depth of experience as demonstrated by his performance in his previous assignments,” said Col. Robert Ruch, Huntsville Center commander.
Marin said the transition into the position is going well, while gaining a firm understanding of the 31 ISPM programs has been arduous.
“The directorate is so vast,” Marin said. “We are into all aspects of installation support, across most all functional areas on a given Department of Defense installation. From the access gate, to the facilities, to the medical infrastructure, to Information Technology and Cyber-Security, to the planning of what the installation will look like 10 years from now, understanding the totality of all programs individually, and then collectively as the Programs complement each other, has been challenging.”
As the director of ISPM, Marin said he believes in centralized control and guidance and decentralized execution.
“Give people a mission, ensure they understand it, and then get out of their way and trust they will get it done. Along the way check to ensure all is on track and that the teams have been properly resourced to accomplish their mission,” he said.
A career Army officer with more than 25 years in uniform working in the engineering field, Marin said his career as a Soldier certainly shaped his management skills and how he will manage the more than 200 people carrying out the directorate’s day-to-day business
“Soldiering takes teamwork, and only through teamwork is the mission accomplished. Soldiering mandates care and compassion of your fellow teammates. When Soldiers (or any employees) know the boss really cares for them, they are much more apt to perform well, take prudent risk and know that the boss will support them through thick and thin,” he said.
Marin said the bottom line is that his people should know he is genuinely concerned about their welfare and professional development.
“The one thing that bothers me the most is when someone does not treat other people with dignity and respect. This is a non-negotiable for me. Everyone deserves to be treated with dignity and respect – period. Missions are important, but missions do not get accomplished without people. Therefore, my philosophy has always been ‘take care of the people, and the mission will happen.’”
Looking toward ISPM’s future, Marin said he envisions the directorate will become both the Installation Support and Program Management Center of Expertise, and he said he strives for the directorate to be a place where all the employees are not only valued, but value added.
“We will garner a reputation in which people genuinely like to come to work, and where our customers know we will fulfill their requirements professionally and at the best value to the government. Our new ISPM motto is "Building Strong – Making a Difference." That is our vision – making a difference each and every day to better prepare our installations for mission success.”
Marin said he wants current and potential customers to know ISPM will be open and transparent every step of the way through the planning, acquisition and execution of their requirement.
“We will be honest and will set expectations from the get-go,” he said. “Our delivery and communications will be professional and everything we do will be executed through the boundaries of being morally, ethically and legally correct.”