Improving Collaboration in Contract Surveillance: Balancing Oversight with Agility

Mr. Sturgill entered the civilian government workforce in 2001 as a DCMA Contract Administration Keystone Intern, and, in 2004, he became a Price/Cost Analyst with cognizance over several large DOD contractors. Upon the establishment of the CACO/DACO network within the DCMA Cost and Pricing Center, he assumed the role of Cost Monitoring Specialist (CMS) supporting DACOs at several major contractor facilities. Mr. Sturgill’s primary background and areas of expertise are: Forward Pricing Rates, Contractor Business Systems, Cost Monitoring and Price Proposal Analysis. While at DCMA, Mr. Sturgill served on numerous Overhead Should Cost Reviews (OHSCR), both as a team member and team lead, at various major contractor locations throughout the United States, and, was among the first recipients of the DCMA Herb A. Homer award for Pricing Excellence.

In September 2013, Mr. Sturgill left DCMA to be part of the newly formed College of Contract Management (CCM) as professor of Contract Administration. Mr. Sturgill now serves as Dept. Chairman for Contracting, Pricing and Aircraft Operations with the CCM.

Walter Eady is the Executive Director of the Defense Contract Management Agency Portfolio Management and Business Integration Directorate. This directorate is responsible for providing full spectrum senior-level strategic customer acquisition enterprise outreach, policy, training, tools, talent management, integrated weapon system portfolio analysis, corporate integration, corporate engagements with industry, supply chain analysis management, program support, program management assessments, earn value management, industrial base analysis including defense industrial base impacts, sustainment analysis, foreign military sales, DoD reimbursable program management and agency integrating capability chair. Mr. Eady also serves as the Agency Champion for DCMA Vision, a DCMA wide look at optimizing Agency organization structures to better meet the needs of DCMA's external customers. 

Mr. Eady retired from the Air Force as a Colonel in 2009 after serving more than 28 years of active duty service. He began his government career as an Air Force Supply officer and served tours in contracting, fuels, logistics planning, financial management, transportation and program management. He served in several base level organizations with fighters, airlift and Special Operations aircraft. While on active duty, Mr. Eady was assigned to the Pentagon on the Air Force Staff and later the Joint Chiefs of Staff. He also served at the Defense Logistics Agency, Air Force Materiel Command Staff, and the C-17 Program Office. On two assignments, he served as Commander, Supply Squadron and Commander DCMA Launch Vehicle Operations. He served in five different major commands to include a tour with the Defense Logistics Agency. He is a member of the Acquisition Corps. Previously, he served as Deputy Executive Director of DCMA’s Portfolio Management and Integration Directorate. 

He graduated from Fayetteville State University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration. He also received a Master of Business Management from Golden Gate University and a master’s degree in National Security Strategies from the Industrial College of the Armed Forces.

John Luddy served as Vice President for National Security Policy at the Aerospace Industries Association from July 2015 until September 2023, where he was responsible for developing AIA’s national security agenda, and for planning and executing advocacy efforts to support it. 
Before joining AIA, John directed Aerojet Rocketdyne’s government relations efforts as Vice President of Washington Operations.  Prior to joining Aerojet, he ran his own consulting practice for nine years, providing business development, market analysis, and legislative advocacy services to clients ranging from America’s largest aerospace companies to technology startups. 
John began his Washington career in 1992 as a defense analyst with the Heritage Foundation, specializing in power projection, readiness, and personnel issues.  He served for six years in the United States Senate, as a senior defense aide to two subcommittee chairmen on the Armed Services Committee, and as Senior Policy Advisor to a member of Senate leadership.  After serving on the staff of the Congressionally-established Commission to Assess U.S. National Security Space Management and Organization, he was appointed to the Office of the Secretary of Defense as a special assistant for legislative affairs, spearheading DOD’s Congressional outreach on missile defense, strategic weapons, and international security policies and programs.   
John holds a Master’s degree in international relations and national security from Tufts University’s Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy, a Bachelor’s degree in history from Bates College, and is a graduate of the U.S. Army’s Ranger and Airborne Schools.  He served on active duty as a Marine Corps infantry officer, and in Reserve policy, operations, and public affairs assignments. 

Tom Shaw is President of Mayday Manufacturing in Denton, TX, a vertically integrated precision aerospace machine company specializing in aerospace bushings. Mayday bushings are found on every Boeing and Airbus plane and on most western military aircraft. Mayday Manufacturing was founded in 1966, employees over 400 people, has annual sales of $80 million, and is the largest global supplier of aerospace bushings and other close tolerance machined components.  Tom attributes the strong success of Mayday to an unrelenting focus on both Quality and On Time Delivery to the demanding aerospace market. Tom has been with Mayday since 2012 and has served as President since 2017.  Mayday Manufacturing is part of the Aerospace & Defense division of Esco Technologies (NYSE: ESE).

Tom is a sales and marketing professional with a broad business background spanning 30 years which enables him to provide a wide range of experience and leadership to the Mayday team.  Tom’s industry experience includes over 20 years in various aerospace market segments including machined parts, fasteners, composite tooling, and electronics.

Prior to joining Mayday, Tom served as Director of Sales of SPS Technologies, a PCC company and in various Business Development and International Sales Management roles with Harsco Minerals, Graftech International, and Union Carbide Corporation. Emphasizing long term value selling, Tom has expanded Mayday sales and built strong customer relationships leading to a significant increase in sales commitments under long term agreements. 

Tom is a graduate of the US Naval Academy, is married with three children, and enjoys remote backpacking in Alaska, hiking, history, and bicycling.