“Over the last year, our defense acquisition professionals worked tirelessly to support the National Defense Strategy and deliver integrated capability to our warfighters, allies, and partners quickly and at scale,” Dr. William LaPlante, Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment said.
The Defense Acquisition Awards represent the “highest tier of acquisition expertise, innovation and dedication to supporting our warfighters,” LaPlante said. There are awards presented to both individuals and teams, with new award categories to recognize “Flexibility in Contracting.” In total, LaPlante presented 20 individual awards and 9 team or organization awards.
“I am honored to recognize the remarkable achievements of this year’s award winners, who exemplify what it means to build enduring advantages across all facets of the defense acquisition enterprise,” said LaPlante.
The Office of Human Capital Initiatives has the full presentation available. The following is a complete list of the award recipients.
Defense Acquisition Individual Achievement Award
Acquisition in an Expeditionary Environment: MAJ Timothy J. Keity, Assistant Product Manager, U.S. Army
- Auditing: Elaine Reilly, Branch Manager, Defense Contract Audit Agency
- Contracting and Procurement: Christopher Gilsta, Chief, Contracts Cell, Space Development Agency
- Cost Estimating: Stephanie Quintal, Deputy Cost Chief, U.S. Air Force
- Earned Value Management: Mr. Brandon Hutchinson, Financial Analyst, U.S. Air Force
- Engineering: Matthew Guernsey, Chief Engineer, Department of the Navy
- Facilities Engineering: Jeffrey Alford, General Engineer, Missile Defense Agency
- Financial Management: Kathleen Single, Financial Manager for Assisted Acquisition, U.S. Army
- Information Technology: Ryan Silvonic, OpsC2 Acquisition Chief, U.S. Air Force
- International Partnership: Joshua B. Grubb, Director, Specialized Contracting Division, U.S. Air Force
- Life Cycle Logistics: Mr. Jason Tiek, U.S. Special Operations Command
- Production, Quality and Manufacturing: Ronald Buonanducci, Lead Quality Assurance Specialist, Defense Contract Management Agency
- Program Management: Jaclyn Blevins, EC-37B Program Manager, U.S. Air Force
- Requirements Management: Victor Steinman, Air Warfare Requirements Coordinator, Department of the Navy
- Science and Technology Manager: Brian Sisco, Special Operations Forces, Acquisition, Technology and Logistics, Futures Lead, U.S. Special Operations Command
- Services Acquisition: Robert E. McClintock, Acquisition Program Manager, U.S. Special Operations Command
- Small Business: Lt Col Christopher Genelin, Chief, Enhanced Capabilities Branch, U.S. Air Force
- Software: Maj Robert Sonnenfeld, Program Manager, Advanced Ground Systems, U.S. Space Force
- Test and Evaluation: Brian Smaszcz, Chief Development Tester, Department of the Navy
Software Innovation Team Award
This award recognizes teams who are driving speed and innovation in continuous software development and acquisition as evidenced by frequent and high-quality delivery of software capabilities into the hands of Warfighters.
- Rapid Capabilities Office B-21 Software Factory, U.S. Air Force
Flexibility in Contracting Individual and Team Awards
This award recognizes professionals who have demonstrated innovation and local adaptation by using the flexibilities and authorities granted by the Federal Acquisition Regulation and DoD Instruction 5000.02, Operation of the Defense Acquisition System.
- Individual Award: Veronica L. Reynosa, U.S. Space Force
- Team Award: PMA-226 (Specialized and Proven Aircraft) F-5 Adversary Integrated Product Team
Defense Acquisition Workforce Development Innovation Awards
This award recognizes acquisition organizations that have demonstrated exceptional innovation in talent management.
- Large Organization: Procurement Group Entry Level Cohort Group, Naval Air System Command, Department of the Navy
- Small Organization: Contracts Management Office, Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency
David Packard Excellence in Acquisition Award
This award recognizes DoD acquisition programs and other teams who have demonstrated excellence and innovation in developing, acquiring, and sustaining operational capability that supports the National Defense Strategy.
- Next Generation Squad Weapons Team, Program Executive Office Soldier, U.S. Army
- LHA 7 Post Delivery Team, Program Executive Office Ships/Amphibious Warfare Program Office (PMS377) Department of the Navy
- BLU-111 Engineering Change Proposal (BLU-140) Program Office, Air Force Material Command, U.S. Air Force
- Special Operations Forces Combat Diving Program, Special Operations Forces, Technology and Logistics, U.S. Special Operations Command
- Low Earth Orbit Systems Program Office, National Reconnaissance Office
