AFLCMC and AFRL employees recognized as best in the DoD acquisition workforce

  • Published
  • By Stacey Geiger
  • 88th Air Base Wing Public Affairs

WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Ohio – Employees from the Air Force Life Cycle Management Center and Air Force Research Laboratory were recognized as some of the best in the acquisition workforce at the 2016 Defense Acquisition Achievement awards.

 

In an awards ceremony at the Pentagon on Dec. 8, 2016, Frank Kendall, Undersecretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology and Logistics, presented awards to the winners for their achievements in best practices, professionalism and excellence in acquisition.

                        

The winners of the 2016 Defense Acquisition Awards are:

2016 Defense Acquisition Resource Management Award, Small Organization – Resource Management Division, Contracting Directorate, AFLCMC/PKX (Tessy Smith, Dorothy Febbi, Gregory Parry, Andrew Hatch, Jonathan Terry)

 

2016 Defense Acquisition Workforce Individual Achievement Award, Contracting and Procurement – Polly McCall, chief of contracts, Long Range Strike-Bomber, AFLCMC/WWS

 

2016 Defense Acquisition Workforce Individual Achievement Award, Science and Technology Manager – Matthew Meininger, Adaptive Versatile Engine Technology and Adaptive Engine Technology Demonstration Program Manager, AFRL/RQT

 

“I am extremely proud of our award winners, it reflects extremely well on the men and women in AFLCMC - truly a team effort,” said Tom Robinson, AFLCMC Director of Contracting. “The award winners are from all our major organizations across the AFLCMC/PK enterprise ensuring that our 2,000 plus contracting people are in the right place at the right time supporting the PEOs and the warfighter’s mission.”

 

According to the award citation, the Resource Management Team was recognized for establishing and implementing strategies designed to attract, develop and retain 2,100 employees in multiple locations. Their mindset of cooperation and willingness to address the multitude of challenges head-on, led to the rapid execution of nine new process improvements and workforce initiatives. The partnerships formed with industry, other government entities and universities led to the employment of more than 250 new trainees and 35 veterans who brought journeyman level experience.

 

McCall was recognized for serving as the lead procuring contracting officer for the 13-month long source selection of a prime contractor to execute engineering and manufacturing development and initial production of the Long Range Strike-Bomber. This source selection represented one of the highest-priority competitive award decisions in the Department of Defense for 2015.

 

Meininger was recognized for his exemplary leadership in significantly contributing to the achievement of aggressive performance goals for a novel adaptive engine design. He reduced specific fuel consumption by 25 percent and increased thrust by 10 percent, which enabled a 30 percent increase in range for future strike and air superiority aircraft. He also led multi-disciplinary teams through two competitive acquisitions and successfully demonstrated and transitioned adaptive engine technologies to a program of record.

 

“This award recognizes Matt's leadership of a true game changer,” said Dr. Charles Cross, Chief of the AFRL turbine engine division said. “Turbine engines in fighters started as turbojets, then turbofans, and now we have three stream adaptive systems that bring unprecedented capability to the warfighter. Matt has been the champion and driving force behind the Adaptive Versatile Engine Technology and Adaptive Engine Technology Development Programs. This award represents a decade of Matt pouring his heart and soul into a concept that has changed the future of turbine engines, and it is truly well deserved.”