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PODCAST

The Contracting Experience

Air Force Materiel Command

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

00:29:55

The Contracting Experience - Episode 72: Accidental...

The Contracting Experience ·

2025/09/16

This episode of The Contracting Experience welcomes Lauren Wittenberg Weiner, Founder and CEO of WWC Global, a company that grew from a small military spouse-led consultancy into a hundred-million dollar powerhouse, ultimately securing a $200 million contract with U.S. Special Operations Command. Lauren shares her journey as an "accidental entrepreneur," detailing how her experience as a military spouse led her to identify a need and create a thriving business. She discusses her early days working

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01:00:08

The Contracting Experience - Episode 71: Timeless...

The Contracting Experience ·

2025/08/06

This episode of The Contracting Experience welcomes Tom Wells, a retired member of the Senior Executive Service with over 35 years of Air Force acquisition-related experience. Wells has held positions such as Director of Contracting, Air Force Materiel Command (AFMC) and Director, 711 Human Performance Wing. He currently serves as Vice President and Senior Associate at Dayton Aerospace, providing senior-level support and acquisition training for government and industry professionals. In this

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00:49:34

The Contracting Experience - Episode 70: Other...

The Contracting Experience ·

2025/07/02

This episode of The Contracting Experience explores the world of Other Transaction Authorities (OTAs) and their role in driving innovation within the Department of Defense. Host Rob Lorton speaks with Tim Greeff, President and Founder of the National Security Technology Accelerator (NSTXL), and Matt Summers, an agreements/contracting officer at the Naval Surface Warfare Center, Crane Division. They delve into the history, present, and future of OTAs, with a focus on the Strategic & Spectrum Missions

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00:37:45

The Contracting Experience - Episode 69: More than...

The Contracting Experience ·

2025/06/04

This special episode of The Contracting Experience bids farewell to Maj. Gen. Alice Trevino, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Contracting, Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Acquisition, Technology and Logistics. Trevino reflects on her accomplishments, particularly her focus on alignment, prioritization, and simplification, and shares insights on empowering contracting professionals by giving them a seat at the table. She stresses the importance of integration across the Air Force

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00:46:19

The Contracting Experience - Episode 68: From Data...

The Contracting Experience ·

2025/05/22

This episode of The Contracting Experience dives into the evolving landscape of data utilization within the Air Force, featuring Jon McGugin from the Air Force Materiel Command's Contracting Digital Division and Teresa Frank, the Cost and Economics Division Chief in AFMC's Financial Management Directorate. Jon and Teresa explore the advancements of the Contract Data Specialist position, building on its introduction in Episode #47, and discuss the parallel development of similar data-focused roles in

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00:26:03

The Contracting Experience - Episode 68: Tackling...

The Contracting Experience ·

2025/04/22

In this second installment of our conversation with Alexis Bonnell, we explore more practical applications of AI for the acquisition workforce. In this episode, Bonnell demystifies the concept of "prompt engineering," explaining how crafting effective questions is crucial to getting the most out of AI tools.We also get an inside look at AcqBot, AFRL's AI-powered contract writing assistant. Bonnell discusses how this tool is designed to honor and respect the expertise of acquisition professionals,

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00:33:05

The Contracting Experience - Episode 66

The Contracting Experience ·

2025/04/01

The Contracting Experience - Episode 66

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00:22:02

The Contracting Experience - Episode 65: Commercial...

The Contracting Experience ·

2025/02/10

In this episode of The Contracting Experience, we sit down with Elizabeth Midkiff and Kori McNabb from the Secretary of the Air Force/Acquisition Policy Division, and Brittany Harris from the Air Force Installation Contracting Center, to discuss the new Commercial Solutions Opening (CSO) Center of Excellence within the Acquisition Toolbox on Air Force Contracting Central.The CSO Center of Excellence is a one-stop shop for resources and guidance on using CSOs, a solicitation method that allows

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00:57:47

The Contracting Experience - Episode 64: Providing...

The Contracting Experience ·

2025/01/27

In this episode, we partner with the Small Business Directorate, Air Force Materiel Command, and welcome our Small Business Co-Host, Marcy Bain, as we interview Francine Morris, Director of Government Contracting, Small Business Administration.Morris helps us understand the basics of our small business programs, SBA resources available to both the government and small businesses, and the type of work that she is doing every day in her role to help all in the acquisition world meet our mission

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00:45:28

The Contracting Experience - Episode 63: CHANGE for...

The Contracting Experience ·

2025/01/13

In this episode, we sit down with Sara Leslie and Nate Armstrong, Co-Chairs of the CHANGE organization at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, as well as Josh Beitel, one of the advisors to the organization. They share their insights and experiences leading the organization and discuss the benefits and opportunities that CHANGE provides to contracting trainees.The conversation covers a range of topics, including the organization's activities, such as networking events, community service and

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00:54:08

The Contracting Experience - Episode 62: Contracting...

The Contracting Experience ·

2024/11/06

In this episode of The Contracting Experience, we are joined by Tony Everidge, Executive Director, Air Force Installation Contracting Center, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, where he helps lead a team of over 750 acquisition professionals who manage a $55 billion contract portfolio. Tune in as Everidge shares his insights, drawing on his days of playing collegiate and semi-professional basketball. He discusses how those experiences taught him valuable life lessons—like teamwork,

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The Contracting Experience - Episode 61: Education...

The Contracting Experience ·

2024/10/08

In this episode, we are joined by Capt. Ariel Parker and Senior Master Sgt. Ryan Ledford, two Air Force contracting professionals fresh off their fellowships in the Education with Industry (EWI) program. Parker and Ledford discuss their impactful experiences working with a start-up company and a non-profit tech accelerator. They offer insights into how their time with industry can benefit contracting professionals and provide practical lessons that listeners can apply in their daily work.Tune in

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The Contracting Experience - Episode 60: Setting the...

The Contracting Experience ·

2024/09/12

In this episode of The Contracting Experience, we welcome Maj. Gen. Alice Trevino, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Contracting, Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Acquisition, Technology, and Logistics. Trevino provides valuable updates on the 2024 Department of the Air Force Contracting Flight Plan, focusing on key accomplishments, challenges, and future objectives. She also discusses the Great Power Competition and Air Force re-optimization efforts, including the introduction of

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The Contracting Experience - Episode 59: Providing...

The Contracting Experience ·

2024/08/19

In this episode, we welcome two guests to highlight the benefits and importance of the AbilityOne Program. Marine Corps veteran and outreach coordinator Jason Michaelsen shares his experiences, struggles, and successes through the AbilityOne Program, offering a heartfelt, uplifting, and motivating testimonial. Jason's story, recently applauded at the DoD Procure-to-Pay Symposium, underscores the transformative impact of the program. Joining him is Roger Westermyer, Technical Director and AbilityOne

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The Contracting Experience - Episode 58: A...

The Contracting Experience ·

2024/07/17

In this episode of The Contracting Experience, we sit down with Tom Wells, a retired member of the Senior Executive Service with over 35 years of Air Force acquisition experience. Wells has held positions such as Director of Contracting, Air Force Materiel Command, and Director, 711th Human Performance Wing, Air Force Research Laboratory. Currently, he serves as Vice President and Senior Associate at Dayton Aerospace, providing senior-level support and acquisition training for both government and

EN

The Contracting Experience - Episode 57: A...

The Contracting Experience ·

2024/07/01

In this episode, we sit down with Special Agent Chris Graham, Director of Operations, Procurement Fraud Detachment, Air Force Office of Special Investigation, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio. Special Agent Graham discusses the history and mission of AFOSI, his role in investigating procurement fraud, and the daily life of a Special Agent. He talks about "finding the lie" and "following the money," as well as the Procurement Fraud Triangle, which consists of pressure, rationalization, and

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The Contracting Experience - Episode 56: The Program...

The Contracting Experience ·

2024/06/14

This episode of The Contracting Experience features Shane Boulware, Program Manager, for Airborne Warning and Control System E-3 Modernization Branch, Hanscom Air Force Base. In addition to his full-time civilian job, Boulware is also a reservist in the contracting career field at the Defense Contract Management Agency, National Capital Region. Boulware offers insights into the similarities and differences between the two career fields and emphasizes the importance of their collaboration for

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The Contracting Experience - Episode 55: ...

The Contracting Experience ·

2024/05/21

This episode of The Contracting Experience features Andrea Edmonds, a certified training instructor at the 88th Force Support Squadron, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio. Edmonds teaches several courses addressing generational differences in the workplace. In this episode, she discusses the origins and key takeaways of her course, explaining the characteristics and dynamics of the various generations currently in the workforce. Edmonds addresses common challenges and misperceptions about

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The Contracting Experience - Episode 54: Introducing...

The Contracting Experience ·

2024/04/30

This episode of The Contracting Experience features a discussion with Robin Harrah, the new Contracting Technical Director at the Air Force Materiel Command. Harrah discusses her previous contracting assignments and explains her new role as the Technical Director. As the former Chief of Contracts for Special Projects, Harrah shares her passion for working in the vault and clarifies several misperceptions about working in a controlled environment. Harrah also offers some solid career advice for

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The Contracting Experience - Episode 53: A...

The Contracting Experience ·

2024/03/26

This episode of The Contracting Experience focuses on artificial Intelligence with guest Lt. Col. Dan Finkenstadt, an officer in the Air Force Contracting Force Development division. Finkenstadt holds a PhD from UNC Chapel Hill and served as a professor at the Naval Post Graduate School for the three years. In this episode, Finkenstadt describes the relationships between Artificial Intelligence, Bots, Machine Learning and Large Language Models while offering use cases, benefits, and risks for Air

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