Executive contracting leader brings acquisition transformation message to workforce
MaryKathryn Robinson, Associate Deputy Assistant Secretary for Contracting, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, hosted a town hall here March 17 to discuss acquisition transformation.
The Pentagon recently directed the acquisition workforce to rapidly deliver integrated capabilities to the warfighter.
Robinson discussed how the Department of the Air Force is maximizing flexible contracting authorities and empowering portfolio acquisition executives to drive acquisition outcomes.
“We are transforming,” Robinson said. “There is a lot of transition, especially with weapons systems. Acquisition is a warfighting function. Contracting within the PAEs is now empowered to deliver for the warfighter.”
Robinson leads a tiger team to assess the contracting workforce’s processes and culture. Insights from the tiger team help PAEs implement rapid contracting actions to accelerate weapon delivery.
The Hanscom contracting workforce is responding to these changes by overhauling existing processes to ensure contracting actions are accelerated across the department.
A recent process improvement is an updated justification and approval document used to award noncompetitive, sole-source contracts.
“The updated J&A document allows the contracting workforce to streamline the acquisition process to deliver capabilities to the warfighter at home and abroad,” said Robinson.
Robinson assists the deputy assistant secretary for contracting related to weapon systems acquisition, logistics support, materiel and services for the Air Force. She also oversees the training, organizing and equipping of a 9,000-personnel contracting workforce.
