Area makes adjustment for deployment
by Mary
Helen YarboroughPublic Relations
When a staff member is deployed to the Middle East, departments must make adjustments, often tapping talent within to provide a smooth and efficient transition.
Damon Amella points
out who is in charge to Geoff Freeman as of July 6.MUSC’s Educational Technology and Distance Learning program experienced such a shift after its executive director, Geoffrey Freeman, was deployed to active duty recently.
For the next year, Freeman, a brigadier general in the U.S. Army Reserves, will function like the head of a very large telecommunications firm. But working in Iraq and Afghanistan won’t come with the big perks normally bestowed on American top executives.
In June Freeman reported to Ft. Gordon, where he will be based until he is shipped out to Kuwait by Aug. 1, to command the 3rd U.S. Army communications unit. The unit's third commander in about as many years, Freeman will help build and rebuild infrastructure for telecommunications and install a whole new fiber optics phone system. His budget is about $300 million, and he will command 5,000 troops. He will work seven days a week, and at least 14 hours each day. “There are no holidays and no days off, except maybe July 4,” Freeman said.
Meanwhile, his command at MUSC has been passed to Damon Amella, the department’s deputy director. Amella will serve as the department’s head while Freeman is deployed.
“We have known this was coming for two years,” Freeman said. “When we hired Damon a year-and-a-half ago, one of the questions we raised in his interview was whether he could run this place.”
Freeman said he used the “military model” to transition his MUSC team for his absence and preparing his replacement to carry the load.
Amella was recruited by MUSC from New York where he produced TV commercials. He said that shortly after he started, he began gearing up to replace Freeman during deployment.
“I’ve been shadowing Geoff, attending committee meetings and meeting with supervisors,” Amella said. “But we’ve been talking about this for a while.”
Freeman said that when his department was preparing for his replacement, a call to Human Resources was necessary. “It was perfect timing. Bud Cooper retired and it left an opening in the department,” Freeman said. “So we talked to HR and said, ‘let’s change the job description a little.’”
The opening enabled HR to make adjustments without having to add a new position.
“We acknowledge that Damon will take on a significant increase in responsibilities,” Freeman said. He said that Amella will return to his deputy post when Freeman returns.
The position oversees a team Freeman calls his “dirty dozen,” 12 people who perform a wide range of functions for the university, including a burgeoning distance learning program, audio/video support for classrooms, digital imaging, video production and photography, and making sure all of the relevant equipment is working.
Freeman said that he will keep in touch via e-mail. Amella now reports directly to Valerie West, Ed.D., associate provost for education and student life.
“Geoff did an excellent job in hiring Damon and in preparing him for his interim responsibilities,” West said. “I have utmost confidence in Damon and the staff of Educational Technology Services, and expect our high quality service to continue. Damon joins the leadership team of the division, as well, and is already making valuable contributions. Geoff will be in our thoughts and we look forward to his safe return.”
Friday, July 20, 2007
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