The U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center in Vicksburg has received the R&D Laboratory Management Award, a first-year honor presented by the U.S. Army Acquisition Corps.

The award is part of the annual Army Laboratory of the Year competition. It was given to the Army lab demonstrating the most impressive accomplishments in work force development, leadership and management initiatives.

ERDC won the award based on its major management accomplishment submission for the competition. The award cited the progress ERDC has made through its Human Capital Initiative and identified its employees as its major resource, and recognized efforts to maintain the high quality work force.

ERDC deputy director Dr. John Cullinane accepted the award at an Oct. 9 ceremony in Arlington, Va. ERDC will keep it for two years.

“It is an honor to win the first-ever instance of this award,” ERDC director Dr. Jeff Holland said. “Our win signifies that the Department of the Army places great confidence in what ERDC is doing and where it is going. The award signifies that ERDC has matured into an organization that is built to last.”

He said the Human Capital Initiative began in 2008 to continue ERDC’s reputation as a world-class research organization by recruiting and retaining a world-class work force.

Holland said ERDC realized that it could do a better job of supporting and building up its staff.

“Based on our demographics, we knew that our organization was aging and that we needed to hire our next generation,” he said.

ERDC’s Human Capital Office was created to develop and implement a program to recruit and retain employees in a competitive job market.

“Even in a down economy, there is tremendous competition for the best and brightest folks,” he said. “We wanted to make sure we were able to recruit and retain those folks.”

Holland said ERDC managers look for prospective employees who are smart, like teamwork and want to make a difference.

They also look for people with a constant, driving desire to learn and see what they learn applied to make the world safer and better.

“The first three get someone an interview,” he said. “The addition of the last two gets someone a job offer.”

The AAC awards are based on reviews and evaluations conducted by the Army Laboratory Assessment Group, which is composed of science and technology experts from a variety of fields.

To make recommendations for the awards, the group uses annual assessments, a written report, a site visit by the ALAG and an oral presentation.

Holland said the assistant secretary of the army for Acquisition, Logistics, and Technology set the content and context of the labs’ submissions.

An external panel of experts reviewed the submissions and conducted oral presentations. Representatives of the panel also visited ERDC to assess the laboratory up close.

ERDC is the premier research and development facility for the Corps, conducting research in military and civil works mission areas for the Department of Defense and the nation. It employs more than 2,500 employees, has $1.2 billion in facilities and an annual research program exceeding $1.5 billion.