Lead Acquisition Management Specialist

• Jan 2019 - Present

Contract Management Professor

• Jul 2003 - Present

The Defense Acquisition University (DAU) is nationally recognized as a leading corporate university that advances the use of technology in all areas of education.As a DAU certified instructor of Contracting under the Defense Acquisition Workforce Improvement Act (DAWIA), I train seasoned 500+ military professionals in Level II and III courses annually. My decades-long experience, motivational leadership style and effective presentation skills have allowed me to share knowledge and foster deep understanding in students in the areas of mission assistance, asset management, leadership and resource management. As former Chair of the Contract Management Department at DAU, Capital and Northeast Region, I jointly executed hiring actions in support of increased organizational requirements. As a result, CM became the largest department for the CNE Region with the largest diversified teaching workload, I developed an integrated workload-planning model to resolve longstanding problems and efficiently document the complex teaching schedules of 25 faculty. My work uncovered potentially catastrophic schedule conflicts and put equity in the department’s workload assignments. This integrated model enabled leadership to monitor training & certification efforts, teaching commitments, mission assistance commitments capability and workforce requirements. Coordinating the program’s budget, I implemented a comprehensive forecasting cost model for Contract Manager Regional Representatives to use in training and mission assistance efforts. I led a team to execute a 5-year program to assist in accelerating the development of contracting professionals through Level I and II, according to requirements of the Defense Acquisition Workforce Improvement Act. I jointly performed a needs-determination analysis and tailored materials for customer specific workshops, as well as consulted in diagnosing problems, strategizing solutions, setting goals, problem-solving and decision-making. Show less

Chief of Plans Division / Program Officer

• Oct 2001 - 2003

In coordination with the Foreign Contracting Office, the Office of Under Secretary of Defense, and the Greek International Relations Directorate, I executed the Defense Cooperation in Armaments program for Athens, Greece, as Chief of Plans Division. I acted as the in-country Department of Defense representative who coordinated a joint service team. Under my direction, my team developed a long-term strategy for implementing the Hellenic military Defense Procurement Plan, and we jointly developed Foreign Military Sales (FMS) cases. In collaboration, I managed over 125 foreign military sales cases valued at over $1.6B ($431M Apache program, $301M Chinook program, and $265M MLRS program). I also coordinated armament cooperation events, including U.S. industry involvement in the DEFENDORY International 2002 Exhibition for defense industry products & services, which received more than 35,000 visitors. My direction involved hosting 55 industry contractors of the U.S. pavilion, along with 500 industries representing 35 countries. Through collaborative team partnerships, I helped plan and participate in conferences that promoted bi-lateral relations & cooperative agreements. For example, in conjunction with U.S. Embassy Defense Attaché Office, I coordinated input for the Regional Working Group associated with a Theater Security Planning System in support of the Summer Olympics 2004 in Athens, Greece. We successfully negotiated Greece as Priority #1 with the European community in 11 of 13 programs to support the Olympics events. Show less

Contracting Officer, Weapon System Acquisition, PCO/ACO

• 2000 - 2003

With the United States Army Communications-Electronics Command, I progressed to Contracting Officer where I executed weapon system acquisitions in support of the Commanding General, Program Executive Officer and related Program Managers. In this role, I supervised a team of 9 contract specialists (GS-11s & GS-12s) and was awarded complex & critical contractual actions in support of major defense systems. I served as Administrative Contracting Officer for satellite communications contracts valued at over $400 million. I was awarded three urgent acquisitions for the Defense Advanced Projects Agency (DARPA) and nine Small Business Innovative Research (SBIR) program awards. I issued delivery orders and modifications in excess of $17 million dollars in technical & engineering support services for the C3 Systems Directorate and the Army Tactical Command & Control System Experimentation Site’s omnibus contract. Collaborating with other personnel, I helped to strategize and execute the realignment & conversion of C3/SOF/MILSTAR Branch to the C2/COMM/SOF Branch. Show less

Chief of Technical Operations

• 1996 - 2000

As Chief of Technical Operations for a CDPL battalion level unit reporting directly to the Office of the Secretary of Defense (OSD), I employed 7 senior Department of Defense (DoD) civilian personnel to engage in providing technical assessment, engineering & program integration support to activities involved in acquisition and contract management of Special Access Weapons System Programs, valued in excess of $7.5 billion. I implemented a management control review program, standardized the collection of monthly metrics & conducted detailed analyses of customer-based, organization-wide workloads to identify current & future workforce requirements. After this time I transitioned into the role of Battalion Executive Officer, where I employed 50+ personnel geographically dispersed across 22 states in defense contractor & government facilities. I directly supervised 8 senior DoD civilian personnel in providing administrative & logistics support. Building upon my effective communication skills, business acumen & leadership style, I maintained the readiness of $1.8M in vehicles & support equipment, developed & executed the command’s $1.1 million operating budget, wrote contingency plans, and managed 18 facilities housing command members & operations. From there I segued into the Contract Operations Officer position, then Warranted Administrative Contracting Officer, continuing to gain expertise in acquisition planning, requirements validation, life-cycle logistics, making milestone decisions, and Resource Management. Show less

Contingency Contracting Officer / Chief of Regional Contracting Office

• 1994 - 1996

While leading the Regional Contracting Office for the Continental U.S. in Bosnia and Sarajevo, I was responsible for warranting a multi-national, multi-service peace enforcement environment in support of NATO IFOR deployment under Operation JOINT ENDEAVOR. I led 8 personnel who procured over $50M in direct support to coalition troops with combat supplies and services, the scope of which ranged from simplified acquisitions, blanket purchase agreements, to bridge reconstruction. I negotiated in lieu of termination the theater-wide vehicle contract ($2.1 M) and administered the completion of the first de-mining contract of Sarajevo Airport. As Contingency Contracting Officer for III Corps, I implemented a government-wide credit card. Show less

Early Miltary Career

• 1982 - 1992

I began my military career as a Shop Officer with USARNG Maintenance Company, and quickly advanced to Platoon Leader of the Automotive, Armament & Communications Electronic Platoons. I took on more responsibilities by training soldiers & rendering support in dispersed locations. Later, as an Executive Officer with 15th Maintenance Company, I continued to build my resource management skills by leading the largest active duty non-divisional direct support maintenance company in USAEUR. As a Commander, I provided direct support maintenance & Class IX repair parts to the 13th COSCOM units in USAEUR. Continuing on to Accountable Officer of the 588th Maintenance Company Supply Support Activity (SSA) in USAEUR, I focused on Wholesale Logistics. I employed 35 soldiers & 10 foreign national employees, & operated SSA, which included the automated management of 3,100 ASL lines, 325 QSS lines & 82 RX items worth a combined value of $5.5 million. In that capacity, I also provided Class IX supply support to 71 customer units. Advancing to Battalion Maintenance Officer in a Light Infantry Division, my responsibilities continued to progress. Here I employed 62 soldiers, leading our team to maintain operational readiness of 176 vehicles & trailers, as well as 101 pieces of engineering equipment, at a rate consistently above 95%. I provided direct support & class IX repair parts as a Commander of the Forward Support Maintenance Company, 10th Mountain Division, directing 235 soldiers. Later as a Contracting Officer, U.S. Army, Communications Electronic Command, I executed contracts in support of Strategic (AN/GRC 52) & Tactical (AN/TSC 85A/93A/100A) satellite communication systems. I provided critical matrix support to PEO C3I & related Program Managers. I also acted as the Assistant Shift Chief for CECOM’s Emergency Operations Center (EOC) for Operation Desert Shield/Storm, managing & directing a staff of 40. Show less