May 19, 2022 —
Recognized with Head of the Contracting Activity Awards for fiscal year 2021 are, from left: Capt. Tad Wilson accepting for Gary Mallory of the Aviation Logistics Center (ALC), Bridge Builder of the Year; Tommy Fout accepting for Petal Donald of the Surface Forces Logistics Center, Rising Star of the Year; Tony Twiddy and Patrick Morris of ALC, members of the Innovative Contracting Team of the Year; Steven Powell with the Director of Operational Logistics – Office of Procurement and Contracting (DOL-9), Supervisor of the Year; Cynthia Clemons and Malita Smith of the Shore Infrastructure Logistics Center (SILC), members of the Outstanding Contracting Team of the Year; Tammy Kao of SILC, Outstanding Contracting Professional of the Year; and Jennifer Souza-Madura with DOL-9, Outstanding Procurement Professional of the Year. U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class Ronald Hodges.
The Coast Guard celebrated excellence within its contracting and procurement enterprise during the Head of the Contracting Activity Annual Awards Ceremony May 17, 2022, at Coast Guard Headquarters in Washington, D.C.
Seven awards in individual and team categories recognized exceptional performance during fiscal year 2021. Nominations for the awards were made by peers within the 1,100-member extended contracting and procurement community.
Coast Guard Deputy Commandant for Mission Support, Vice Adm. Paul Thomas, emphasized the importance of contracting and procurement to the Coast Guard during his remarks. “Every life we save, every ounce of cocaine that comes off the water, every vessel we inspect, passengers that we protect, fisheries law that we enforce, every single one of those missions starts with a contracting action.”
Head of the Contracting Activity Keith O’Neill thanked the contracting and procurement workforce for their great work, made even more challenging by impacts of the COVID pandemic and other external forces. He told the audience that contracting and procurement professionals are like “the offensive line of a football team … we’re the grinders … they can’t do without us, they need us, we’re imperative, but no one recognizes our face when we walk down the street.” The satisfaction comes from the fact that “the mission we support is just fantastic,” he said.
Fiscal Year 2021 winners:
Outstanding Contracting Professional of the Year – Tammy Kao, Shore Infrastructure Logistics Center (SILC)
Recognized for 62.5 percent expansion of annual workload in response to an unexpected vacant position and broadening partnerships with remote SILC contracting officers to leverage support for five projects totaling $1.8 million.
Outstanding Procurement Professional of the Year – Jennifer Souza-Madura, Director of Operational Logistics – Office of Procurement and Contracting (DOL-9)
Recognized for developing a procurement request tracking tool for use during the Financial Systems Modernization Solution cutover period.
Supervisor of the Year – Steven Powell, DOL-9
Recognized for his leadership in the consolidation of storekeepers from Base Elizabeth City and Air Station Elizabeth City, which increased productivity, exchange of ideas and customer service and, ultimately, increased flight readiness at Air Station Elizabeth City through more robust parts issuance.
Rising Star of the Year – Petal Donald, Surface Forces Logistics Center
Recognized for supporting the Medium Endurance Cutter Product Line and ensuring the good stewardship of taxpayer dollars.
Bridge Builder of the Year – Gary Mallory, Aviation Logistics Center (ALC)
Recognized for supporting the Contracting Officer’s Representative (COR) program and the mentorship of junior CORs and strategizing the best use of the aircraft maintenance contract.
Outstanding Contracting Team of the Year – Pam Argilan, Cheryl Allen, Michele Williams, Alex Holmes, Malita Smith, LaSean Gray, Harris Carr, Cynthia Clemons, Maria Chapa Johnson, SKC Julius Parrish, Gabe Perez, Wes Whisner, Daniel Brazell, Mathuei Kenneybrew, Moshe Damari, Adam Birkland and Melvin Tiglao of SILC
Recognized for surging and delivering outstanding mission support at the “speed of need,” including the following major milestones: completed five projects valued at $45 million, awarded 13 major Procurement, Construction and Improvement projects valued at over $325 million and released an additional eight contract solicitations valued at over $300 million. The achievements included the largest contract award in Facilities Design and Construction Center history (Sector Key West Hurricane Rebuild, $82.5 million) and the award of eight other hurricane rebuild projects that will directly enhance operational capability and resiliency in District 7 and District 8.
Innovative Contracting Team of the Year – Patrick Morris, Tony Twiddy, Johnnie Barnett and Al Lotz of ALC
Recognized for developing a creative plan to ensure all applicable files for audits are thoroughly reviewed in the virtual environment and remain on schedule.