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 Lonnie Williams, program manager at DMI and finalist in the DOD Executive of the Year, Private Company category. Here, he shares key achievements and what has made him successful in his current role.
What key achievements did you have in 2023?
This year, my team and I were able to successfully integrate an AI solution into the U.S. Army’s records management system. This solution enabled documents to be indexed with the correct metadata in 20 seconds or less, cutting 65 days of backlog time and reducing the manual touch labor required to complete indexing on documents submitted for soldiers’ records.
As a result, the Army now has quick access to accurate, up-to-date records, providing a holistic, real-time view of their service members and operations and allowing for timely promotions of eligible soldiers and improved efficiency regarding assigning high-profile missions.
Documents are now able to be entered into the soldier’s permanent record within seven minutes of submission — a reduction from 80 days previously.
This ongoing project highlights DMI’s ability to deliver value to our government customers with cutting-edge innovation. As government moves to enact more AI solutions to save time and cost, and increase efficiencies, private/public partnerships such as these can support mission success across government.
What has made you successful in your current role?
I’d attribute communication to my success in my current role. I have made it a personal goal to be an excellent listener and communicator and have taken the time to truly understand and clearly communicate with my colleagues and team at DMI as well as our customers.
In private/public partnerships, ensuring an understanding of the customer’s goals and challenges as well as their bandwidth is essential to success. Building this level of communication results in a conducive environment to provide the best quality solutions in the timeliest manner.