The finalists for WashingtonExec’s 2023 Pinnacle Awards were announced Sept. 25, and we’ll be highlighting some of them until the event takes place live, in-person Nov. 16.
Next is John Polowczyk, a managing director at Ernst & Young and a finalist for Supply Chain Executive of the Year. Here, he shares his 2023 key accomplishments, main focus areas and a career turning point.
What key achievements did you have in 2023?
My biggest 2023 achievements included the implementation of digital solutions across federal, and helping DOD and other Civilian agencies see that current commercial supply chain practices are applicable to Federal Government challenges. It was very rewarding to help them understand how new capabilities and new ways of working can deliver big benefits for our nation.
What was a turning point or inflection point in your career?
A significant inflection point took place when I received an opportunity to lead the Supply Chain Task Force for the National COVID response as part of Vice President Pence’s team. Working to stabilize a supply chain and deliver for our healthcare workers was a dauting task which required me to draw on many different technical capabilities. I never thought I would bring procurement, financial, supply chain and technology skills together at one time.
What are your primary focus areas going forward, and why are those so important to the future of the nation?
My primary focus is bringing Digital Industry 4.0 solutions to the Federal Government: things like end-to -end visibility, predictive forecasting using AI, and building resilience. In order for DoD to accomplish its mission under contested logistic environments, these Industry 4.0 capabilities will be required.