PODCAST

The Contracting Experience

The Contracting Experience connects government contracting professionals to the world around them through conversations with acquisition influencers, insights into evolving hot topics, and by sharing lessons learned from the field.

government & organizations

All Episodes

The Contracting Experience - Episode 32: Digital...

The Contracting Experience ·

2021/10/14

In this episode, we sit down with the Department of the Air Force Digital Transformation Office Chief, Kyle Hurst. Hurst talks about the mission of the Digital Transformation Office and why it’s so important for the Air Force to automate unnecessary manual processes and transform digitally in order to compete with near peer adversaries. He also shares what everyday Airmen can do to contribute to this immediate challenge facing the Air Force. Acronyms: AFMC – Air Force Materiel Command DAF –

The Contracting Experience - Episode 31: The...

The Contracting Experience ·

2021/07/19

In this episode, we talk to the Commandant of the Acquisition Instructor Course or AQIC, Col. Steve Smith. The Vice Chief of Staff of the Air Force directed the establishment of an advanced acquisition career field training course developed in partnership with the United States Air Force Weapons School. This unique opportunity for United States Air Force and United States Space Force acquisition professionals aligns with the Force Modernization Talent Management Framework to develop broadly

The Contracting Experience - Episode 30: Education...

The Contracting Experience ·

2021/06/23

This episode of The Contracting Experience podcast features Capt. John Diekel, an Air Force active duty contracting officer currently assigned to Data Collective Venture Capital (DCVC) & Gothams as an Air Force Institute of Technology Education With Industry Fellow. At DCVC, Diekel executes due diligence of startups with dual-use technologies vying for venture capital funding. Simultaneously, Diekel helps startups with dual-use technologies navigate the Department of Defense acquisition landscape

The Contracting Experience -- Episode 29: The Future...

The Contracting Experience ·

2021/04/15

This episode of the podcast features the head of Air Force Contracting, Maj. Gen. Cameron Holt. Holt talks about the extraordinary response of Air Force Contracting during the COVID-19 Pandemic. He also addresses the work focused on the Lines of Effort within the Air Force Contracting Flight Plan and how these efforts are setting up the contracting unit of the future. He also has some big ideas that, if implemented, will revolutionize the way the Air Force conducts business.

The Contracting Experience - Episode 28: Commercial...

The Contracting Experience ·

2021/03/01

On this episode of The Contracting Experience podcast we sit down with Cost/Price Analyst Shannon Prince to discuss commercial benchmarking. Shannon was on a Government benchmarking team that visited five commercial companies from July 2018 to February 2019 to explore what purchasing and pricing strategies commercial businesses use to acquire commercial items and services. Shannon shares what lessons were learned from engaging with the companies and how those lessons can be transferred into how the

The Contracting Experience - Episode 27: Acquisition...

The Contracting Experience ·

2021/01/14

On this episode of The Contracting Experience podcast, we welcome Maj. Randall Mullen to share his experiences with deployments in support of the United States military. Mullen discusses what he did to prepare for deployments and what missions he supported. He also shares tough challenges he faced, successes he had with his teams, and how his deployments have shaped his outlook as a leader in the Air Force. Acronyms: OCSIC – Operational Contract Support Integration Cell CJTF – Combined Joint Task

The Contracting Experience - Episode 26: Richard...

The Contracting Experience ·

2020/09/23

This episode of The Contracting Experience podcast features Ohio Procurement Technical Assistance Center (PTAC) Specialist Rich Delisio. There are 94 PTACs, with over 300 local offices, that form a nationwide network of dedicated procurement professionals working to help local businesses compete successfully in the government marketplace. PTACs are the bridge between buyer and supplier, bringing to bear their knowledge of both government contracting and the capabilities of contractors to maximize

The Contracting Experience - Episode 25: AFWERX...

The Contracting Experience ·

2020/04/16

AFWERX was established in 2017 by the Secretary of the Air Force to be a catalyst for agile Air Force engagement across industry, academia, and non-traditional contributors to create transformative opportunities and foster an Air Force culture of innovation. On this episode, we welcome AFWERX Director, Dr. Brian “Beam” Maue to the podcast to talk about the AFWERX mission and how the organization interacts with its stakeholders. Maue discusses how AFWERX thinks about Agile Contracting and describes

The Contracting Experience - Episode 24: Spark Tank...

The Contracting Experience ·

2020/04/16

Spark Tank is an annual competition put on by AFWERX where Airmen "pitch" innovative ideas to top Air Force leadership and a panel of industry experts. This episode we sit-down with six of the Airmen who pitched their ideas at the Air Force Association’s Air Warfare Symposium in Orlando, FL, in February 2020. These Airmen are solving Air Force problems using solutions like: robotic process automation, portable magnetic aircraft covers, C-17 loading aids, low cost threat emitter replicators,

The Contracting Experience - Episode 23: Civilian...

The Contracting Experience ·

2020/01/28

This episode of the podcast highlights the training and development opportunities open to civilian employees through the Civilian Developmental Education and Civilian Strategic Leader Programs. Applications opened Jan. 13, 2020 and close for boarded programs on Feb. 7 and non-boarded programs Feb. 28. This episode identifies things to consider when applying for CDE or leadership training regardless of when you choose to apply. The first part of the episode features Heidi Bullock, Air Force

The Contracting Experience - Episode 22: AFLCMC...

The Contracting Experience ·

2020/01/16

This episode of The Contracting Experience podcast is about the Air Force Life Cycle Management Center Pitch Days. We speak with Air Force Research Laboratory’s Small Business Intrapreneur, Ryan Helbach, and LCMC Pitch Day Contracting Officer for the Fighters & Bombers Program Executive Office, Brett Wray. Ryan and Brett discuss what it takes to put on a Pitch Day and the value Pitch Days provide to the Air Force. They also talk to the new perspective government and industry participants have

The Contracting Experience - Episode 21: More on...

The Contracting Experience ·

2019/12/18

On this episode of The Contracting Experience we welcome back previous guest to the podcast, Joyce Pappas, who is an Industrial Security Program Manager at the Information Protection office, Air Force Materiel Command Headquarters. This episode will look at Industrial Security from a small business and Defense Contractor point of view. Check out Episode 6 to get refreshed on this important subject on the “Industrial Security Explained” episode. Enjoy! Defense Counterintelligence and Security

The Contracting Experience Podcast - Episode 20: Air...

The Contracting Experience ·

2019/11/13

This episode features Air Force Installation Contracting Center Commander, Brig. Gen. Alice Trevino. Trevino talks about AFICC’s mission and how she encourages her teams to be “Change Agents”. She is an active promoter of continuous learning and development of the acquisition workforce and emphasizes the importance of communication at all levels. Trevino is a gracious supporter of the podcast and shares her vision on critical thinking, failing and learning fast, and empowering the workforce

The Contracting Experience - Episode 19: JB MDL...

The Contracting Experience ·

2019/10/15

In this next episode, we are going to try something a little different. MSG Mic’d Up is a podcast hosted by 87th Contracting Squadron Commander Lt. Col. Axel Clark. The podcast offers on-demand interviews and stories from around the 87th Mission Support Group at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, NJ. Hear from leadership across the joint base and get up to date on the latest MSG 2020+ initiatives. Lt. Col. Clark recorded an episode for The Contracting Experience to feature the base’s latest

The Contracting Experience - Episode 18: Startup...

The Contracting Experience ·

2019/09/11

This episode is Part II on podcast host Amber Pecoraro’s Startup Innovation Fellowship experience. Maj. Gen. Cameron Holt, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Contracting, Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Acquisition, Technology and Logistics, takes the mic and interviews Amber on her fellowship experience. The Startup Innovation Fellowship program is run by the National Security Innovation Network and provides military and civilian employees with 4-15 years of experience an

The Contracting Experience - Episode 17: Startup...

The Contracting Experience ·

2019/08/22

The next two episodes of the podcast will focus on the Startup Innovation Fellowship program that podcast host, Amber Pecoraro, completed in June. The Startup Innovation Fellowship program is run by National Security Innovation Network and provides military and civilian employees with 4-15 years of experience an opportunity to embed with a startup company to explore a command issue for six weeks. Amber was matched with the startup company, Decisive Point, in Washington D.C. which works with other

The Contracting Experience - Episode 16: Jacob Kolb...

The Contracting Experience ·

2019/07/25

This episode features a team that changed the way training systems and support were being competed in the Air Force Life Cycle Management Center’s Simulators Program Office. Program Manager Jacob Kolb and Contracting Officer Dustin Tatum led the C-17 Training Systems acquisition team in its use of Federal Acquisition Regulation 16.5 Fair Opportunity Selection procedures for a program valued over $900 million. They discuss how they tailored their selection criteria for a best value decision and how

The Contracting Experience - Episode 15: Defense...

The Contracting Experience ·

2019/06/20

Ever wonder who those professionals are that get to crawl around planes and productions lines to inspect government supplies and services to check quality and ensure adequate performance? Don’t forget the cost and financial analysts that ensure tax payer dollars are spent correctly on products and services that support our missions. Well in this episode you get a big picture view of what Defense Contract Management Agency does to support the Department of Defense from DCMA’s Commander of the West

The Contracting Experience - Episode 14: Services...

The Contracting Experience ·

2019/05/22

Services Acquisitions make up approximately 50% of the Air Force expenditures. A significant amount of that spend is for specialized services outside of the Weapon System Program Offices that are overseen by the Program Executive Office Combat and Mission Support. These services range from support of test operations, design and engineering, and technical data to support of facility services of our bases and emergency services to forward deployed locations. Nancy Andrews is the Program Executive

The Contracting Experience - Episode 13: Air Force...

The Contracting Experience ·

2019/05/01

Speed Chess. In this episode, Dr. Will Roper, Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Acquisition, Technology and Logistics, challenges the workforce to make good decisions faster. He highlights how contracting professionals are shifting the pace in which we buy capabilities through events like Air Force Pitch Day, use of Section 804 authorities, and agile software development. Dr. Roper emphasizes the importance of bolstering commercial start-ups and shines a light on the creativity and innovation

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The Contracting Experience

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