The Mid-Atlantic Acquisition Council Training Symposium held in Philadelphia on November 30, 2016, served as a pivotal forum for acquisition professionals seeking career advancement and expertise enhancement. This event, attended by local acquisition specialists from over a dozen federal agencies, including the Defense Logistics Agency Troop Support, was meticulously designed to bolster the federal acquisition community.
The council’s core mission revolves around fostering professional development, disseminating best practices, celebrating outstanding achievements, and enriching acquisition skills and knowledge. The 2016 symposium effectively delivered on this commitment by offering a platform for robust learning and networking.
A distinguished panel of senior acquisition experts engaged with the 185 attendees, providing invaluable perspectives on contemporary issues, career progression strategies, and the critical importance of interagency collaboration within the acquisition field.
Navy Capt. Gerald Raia, Procurement Process Support Director representing Troop Support, highlighted the forum’s significance. He emphasized its role in enabling DLA employees to both contribute to and learn from colleagues across various agencies. “There’s a lot of opportunity here,” Raia noted, expressing his enthusiasm for interagency sharing and collaboration.
Capt. Raia, the sole uniformed service member on the panel, addressed a common perception of acquisition as merely an administrative task. He passionately argued for its recognition as a strategic function, deeply intertwined with each agency’s fundamental objectives. “The job is so critically, vitally important to what we do,” Raia asserted, drawing from his experience in the Middle East to underscore the profound impact of effective contracts.
He further emphasized the necessity of not only securing sound contracts but also diligently monitoring their post-award phase to ensure they effectively contribute to agency missions. “When we look at the post-award side, what did we actually accomplish? Is the customer actually getting what they are paying for?” Raia questioned, prompting reflection on contract outcomes.
Soraya Correa, the Chief Procurement Officer for the Department of Homeland Security and another panelist, focused on career development advice for the assembled acquisition professionals. “Don’t wait for others to develop you. Work on developing yourself,” Correa advised, advocating for proactive career management. She encouraged attendees to seek help, take calculated risks, and cultivate resilience in the face of career challenges.
Correa also stressed the significance of attitude in professional success. “When you have a good attitude, it permeates the room. It impacts the staff and the people that work with you,” she explained. “People want to work with somebody positive,” highlighting the interpersonal dynamics crucial in acquisition careers.
The symposium culminated in the recognition of interagency excellence, with DLA Troop Support personnel receiving two prestigious awards. Maliza Maldonado, a contracting officer within the Industrial Hardware supply chain, was honored with the individual Acquisition Excellence award. This accolade recognized her exceptional work on the Air Force Industrial Product-Support Vendor Program’s 18-month bridge contract, which supports bench-stock requirements for three Air Logistics Complexes.
Gary Shifton, director of supplier operations for the Industrial Hardware supply chain, lauded Maldonado’s dedication and results: “She devoted long hours and showed extreme dedication and focus, successfully soliciting, negotiating and awarding the contract, reducing the original proposed price by more than $1 million,” he stated. “She is a role model for all acquisition specialists.”
The Subsistence National Contracts Team received the group Acquisition Excellence award for their innovative strategy in streamlining protein item purchases for military customers outside the continental United States. Team lead Janine Samoni, Chief of Strategic Materiel Sourcing Group Division, detailed their achievements: “The team implemented an innovative strategy streamlining the purchases of center-of-the-plate protein items for military customers outside the continental United States,” she said. “The team has averaged significant cost savings of 25 percent by reducing duplication and leveraging the purchasing power of the government.”
The Acquisition Professional Career Program 2016 Forum, through its insightful panels and recognition of excellence, provided a valuable platform for acquisition professionals to advance their careers, enhance their skills, and contribute more effectively to their agencies’ missions.
