AFMC wins Air Force Small Business top command awards

Published July 30, 2014
By Stacey Geiger
Air Force Materiel Command Public Affairs

WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Ohio -- Air Force Director of Small Business Programs Mark Teskey presented Air Force Materiel Command winners with the 2013 Secretary of the Air Force Annual Small Business Awards during a July 24 visit to the headquarters here.

The Secretary of the Air Force Annual Small Business Awards Program recognizes teams and individuals who have contributed significantly to strengthening the industrial base and meeting warfighter needs through an array of small business capabilities that bring innovation, agility and efficiency.

For the second year in a row since this award's inception in 2012, AFMC Commander Gen. Janet Wolfenbarger accepted the Secretary of the Air Force Small Business Director's Top MAJCOM award.

This award recognizes the contributions of the top major command for standout achievements in promoting a culture highly supportive of small business as demonstrated by acquisition strategy decision trends, policies and procedures and community and/or industry outreach initiatives. With the exception of women-owned business, AFMC exceeded percentage goals in all socioeconomic categories and achieved 10.82 percent equaling $3.5 billion dollars in small business contracts for fiscal year 2013. The command also increased industry communication and improved market research to maximize small business participation.

Teskey also presented AFMC Director of Small Business E. Jean Smith with the Outstanding MAJCOM Small Business Director Award. This award recognizes significant actions, performance and contributions of a major command small business director in advocating the award of Air Force small business contracts that provide significant contributions to the Air Force and Department of Defense.

After being in the position for less than two years, Smith implemented a small business metric in the command's strategic plan and successfully obtained senior leaders' engagement with small business financial goals. She also increased communication with industry by providing no-cost outreach events. Through Smith's outreach efforts, more than 400 small businesses received training.

"The AFMC Small Business Program's mission is to ensure that we are maximizing small business opportunities to ensure small businesses obtain a fair share of the federal contract dollars and maintain a competitive edge," Smith said. "There is a direct correlation between competitive acquisition and the number of small business awards. As we increase our competitive edge, we will see an increase in small business awards."

Although she expects AFMC will once again exceed the goals for 2014, Smith said it is not about the goals but more about the capabilities small businesses bring to the warfighters.

Additional AFMC award winners include the following:

Small Business Programs Process Action Team
David Sikora, Air Force Research Laboratory
Richard Flake, Air Force Research Laboratory
Stephen "Buzz" Sawyer, Air Force Nuclear Weapons Center
James Dean, Air Force Sustainment Center
David Duesterhaus, Air Force Test Center

Secretary of the Air Force Special Achievement/Champion (Individual) Award
Jason Cadek, Air Force Life Cycle Management Center

Secretary of the Air Force Small Business Director's Outstanding Senior Leader Small Business Achievement (Individual) Award
Maj. Gen. Craig Olson, Air Force Life Cycle Management Center
Steven Wert, Air Force Life Cycle Management Center
Robert Shofner, Air Force Life Cycle Management Center

Secretary of the Air Force Small Business Director's Beyond Goals Award (Individual/Activity/Unit)
ESG Team, Air Force Materiel Command
Barbara Liptak
David Boris
Mary Urey
Graciela Elizalde
Debra Harber
Esmeralda Rodriguez
Sylvia Linke