Les Painter
Office of Audit Management and Accountability
How long have you been with GSA?
13 years, although I worked as a civil servant for 16 years.
What are your current roles and responsibilities in OCFO? What can people reach out to you for assistance with?
I’m responsible for OCFO Emergency Management in regards to COOP, ICATS administration, functionality, and operations, ICATS BOT operations, and participate in the GSA Audit Follow-up Program.
What do you enjoy the most about being a member of the OCFO community?
The warm fellowship of being part of this group of professionals that generates the atmosphere of the community, by far, is what I appreciate most. From my point of view, I see that this community welcomes its members with open arms and offers many growth opportunities. There is a warmth between the members of this community. Your colleagues care about your success, so together, we're stronger. The community thrives through our shared success because we share the identity and purpose of being one OCFO. This community is robust and offers to name just a few, of the multitude of opportunities provided by OCFO.
The open availability of information: OCFO Week in Review, Quarterly Newsletter, OCFO Job Announcements, when available
Various training opportunities: Monthly Article Club, Analytics Corner, Business Intelligence Tours FY 2022
Platforms offered: Analytics Community Meetings, Series of information provided by Gartner
Which branch of the military did you serve in and why?
U.S. Navy (although I was attached to many Marine Corps units for operations as their combat medic). I signed up mostly because my father served and I marveled at the stories of adventure, lands, and people far away.
When did you join?
July 18, 1983
How did you imagine military life before you joined? How did your perceptions change after serving?
My father, having served, painted a pretty good picture for me before I joined. There were not many unknowns. After joining, my perceptions changed massively. I understood the difference between doing a good job and doing an exemplary job. You see, doing your job is not enough. Going above and beyond to complete an exemplary job is the mindset. Throughout your journey in the military, you gain that hunger and become a person driven by a relentless pursuit of excellence.
How has your service affected your approach to civilian life?
During my 22 years of serving and traveling worldwide, meeting and learning from many different people and their cultures, I've seen that eternal vigilance is the price for being free. The “American Person" has immense resources at present, and I believe we take many things for granted because of this. We should be watchful, sincere, and defend our God-given freedoms because life would change for the worst if these freedoms were lost. I've seen the effects of oppression first-hand while overseas. Observing oppression is pretty disturbing.
Is there anything you wish civilians understood about military service?
Less than one percent of the population of the United States volunteers to join and serve in the military. We should be thankful to have young men and women who still serve and provide that blanket of freedom we all snuggle under each evening.
Please don't forget that we (active duty/veterans) are your aunts, colleagues, cousins, daughters, fathers, friends, grandfathers, grandmothers, husbands, lovers, mothers, partners, sons, uncles and wives. Please realize that each person's military service (or experience) is different and very personal. It is unique to oneself, and no one can speak for anyone else.
From the beginning (when we first joined the military), much effort is spent training active duty to adapt, improvise, and overcome stressful and life-threatening situations. Surviving said conditions changes you. Civilians may not be aware of the unique challenges, or life-changing experiences veterans are exposed to that haunt them throughout their lives.
Most of the time, there isn't any common ground for understanding, and in some instances, there should not be to prevent others from sustaining scars. One day, you may be in garrison (your current duty station), and with less than 24-hour’s notice, you could be whisked away to a foreign land on an operation. Life-changing events can and do occur. Many times, fellow veterans don't understand what others are going through, not having similar experiences, although they have that standard of serving in the military. While serving, everyone comes to the point where they decide to move on or retire from the military. The transition back to civilian life begins.
It is challenging leaving the military or coming home and back into civilian life where there is no official transition program. You're thrown in the deep end as you enter civilian life. This action is similar but different from when entering the military and is still a wake-up call. You retain the baggage from all of your experiences while serving (albeit for good or bad as it appears everyone has baggage). Typical civilians don't acquire the baggage I refer to in a moderate or ordinary civilian life. Please try to understand that some situations leave scars.
For me, a veteran Hospital Corpsman serving with the Marine Corps during the Gulf War, I am thankful each morning when my eyes open, and I am at home in my own bed. For me, if I don't have to tend to someone's combat injuries, keep my patients alive in various hazardous environments, I am not being shot at, and we're all getting paid, it is a good day.
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