The Contracting Experience

In this episode, we sit down with Capt. Alicia Binggeli, Heather Carino, and Capt. Oleksandr Bakuta who are Air Force contracting professionals who have completed Education with Industry (EWI) fellowships. Alicia, Heather, and Oleksandr share their experiences working with 8VC, SpaceX, and Intel Capital. They each discuss what they found impactful during their EWI fellowships as well as how contracting professionals can start applying their lessons learned today.

Acronyms:

EWI – Education with Industry

I2I – Insights to Industry

RFP – Request for Proposal

RFI – Request for Information

DAU – Defense Acquisition University

NSIN – National Security Innovation Network

VC – Venture Capital

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In this episode, we learn about the Air Force Acquisition Toolbox. There are three contracting folks that are part of this conversation. Two of the individuals are members of the SAF/AQC Operational Imperative Field Support Team, Elizabeth Midkiff and Laura Fuller, and the third person is Air Force Materiel Command Contract Data Specialist, Justin Lyles. In this conversation you’ll learn about what the Acquisition Toolbox is and how it is supported for effectiveness to assist acquisition teams in using the latest tools. You will also get insights into how you can start using the Acquisition Toolbox today to enhance your acquisitions.

Acronyms:

DoD – Department of Defense

DAF – Department of the Air Force

OT – Other Transaction

AI – Artificial Intelligence

NASA – National Aeronautics and Space Administration

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In this episode, we sit down with Roger Westermeyer, Director of Enterprise Solutions Support at the Air Force Installation Contracting Center. Roger partnered with Defense Acquisition University to develop a course on critical thinking. He discusses how we can apply critical thinking to the acquisition process. Roger also gives insight into where you can start if you’re interested in learning more about how to better think critically.

Acronyms:

ASP – Acquisition Strategy Panel

Defense Acquisition University Critical Thinking Course:

https://rise.articulate.com/share/IoQ0U_gdvvzhaqcgMxHwKJi3_wKrvGJV#/

Foundation for Critical Thinking:

https://community.criticalthinking.org/index.php

The School of Thought:

https://www.schoolofthought.org/

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In this episode, we sit down with Rob Lorton, Branch Chief for Data eUtilization within the Air Force Materiel Command Contracting Digital Division. Rob talks about the vision for the new Contract Data Specialist positions that were created in Air Force Contracting. He discusses expectations of the responsibilities and experience level of the positions. Rob also gives insight into where you can start if you’re interested in a Contract Data Specialist position.

Acronyms:

CDS – Contract Data Specialist

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In this episode, we sit down with Col. Eric Obergfell, Deputy Director of Contracts, Air Force Life Cycle Management Center. Obergfell explains what psychological safety is and why it’s important in our Air Force organizations. He also speaks to the value that personal growth adds to Air force missions and how to know when you need a mentor and when you need a coach in your career.

Acronyms:

STRATCOM – United States Strategic Command

DCMA – Defense Contract Management Agency

SOCCOM – United States Special Operation Command

TRL – Technical Readiness Level

USAF – United States Air Force

FMS – Foreign Military Sales

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This guest episode features the Defense Acquisition University’s (DAU) Contracting Conversations podcast hosted by DAU Department Chairs, Jim Valley and Scott Williams. Contracting Conversations aims to provide listeners with updated information on the credentialing contracting curriculum and answer questions on the training structure at Defense Acquisition University.

This featured episode from Contracting Conversations talks about the Back-to-Basics certification structure, one year after implementation. Search for the podcast in your favorite podcasting app or go to dau.edu and search for Contracting Conversations to hear more topics that can help you on your acquisition journey.

“Contracting Conversations” at dau.mil:

https://media.dau.edu/media/1_vi98l1at

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In this episode, we sit down with Air Force Materiel Command Commander, Gen. Duke Z. Richardson. Richardson talks about visiting many AFMC centers and installations in his first six months in his current role and what surprised him most about what he saw. He also shares how his 2023 Air Force Materiel Command Strategic Plan was developed and how the workforce can utilize it in executing their missions.

Acronyms:

OI - Operational Imperatives

DMM - Digital Materiel Management

AFMC - Air Force Materiel Command

Air Force Materiel Command 2023 Strategic Plan:

https://www.afmc.af.mil/Portals/13/AFMC%20Strat%20Plan%202023%20%28digital%20copy%29.pdf

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In this episode, we sit down with two Air Force Contracting professionals leading the adoption and transition to CON-IT. Jay Olson comes to us from SAF/AQCI--Air Force Contracting Business Systems, and Dan Parish is from the contracting directorate at Headquarters, Air Force Materiel Command. The guests outline the top three things teams should be doing to prepare for the transition to CON-IT. They also talk about recent successes on the program and opportunities for e-business at the strategic level.

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This episode of the podcast is with Head of Air Force Contracting, Maj Gen

Alice Trevino and podcast guest interviewer and future Contracting Squadron

Commander, Maj Delaney Kiernan. Gen Trevino talks about looking at the

challenges and opportunities in Air Force Contracting through a lens of

alignment, prioritization, and simplification. She also addresses how Lines of

Effort are being reviewed and addressed within the Air Force Contracting

Flight Plan. Gen Trevino encourages Contracting professionals to think about

their growth and how setting goals can help them stay focused on their

personal and professional development.

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AFMC/PK Podcast Episode 41: Follow-up: Collaborating with Industry -

Chelsea Fulham & Abby Doorn

In this episode, we follow-up with our guests from episode 36, Chelsea

Fulham and Abby Doorn, who are Air Force Contracting professionals that

completed Education with Industry (EWI) fellowships. Chelsea's work with

Amazon and Abby's work with Anduril really got them thinking about how

collaborative industry is with its partners and how Government Acquisition

may better take advantage of opportunities to collaborate with industry to

meet its goals.

As part of their EWI capstone project, Chelsea and Abby worked with Data

Analytics students from UC Berkeley to develop a tool that would allow

companies doing business with the Government a vehicle to provide feedback

on the acquisition process. Chelsea and Abby share the data they received

from industry partners and identify which indicators show the biggest

opportunities for improving the acquisition timeline. They also give advice

to future EWI fellows as they collaborate with industry to learn and improve

the way we do business.

Acronyms:

EWI - Education with Industry

Amazon SCOT - Supply Chain Optimization Technologies

NSIN - National Security Innovation Network

MVP - Minimum Viable Product

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[email protected].

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