AFDW contracting civilian receives national award

Published May 9, 2013
By Senior Airman Steele C. G. Britton
Air Froce District of Washington Public Affairs

JOINT BASE ANACOSTIA-BOLLING, D.C. -- In less than two years as an Air Force District of Washington employee, a civilian Airman has proven to be a stand-out in her field by earning the National Contract Management Association's 2012 Excellence in Contracts Professionalism Award.

MaryKathryn Robinson, AFDW Contracting Directorate Strategic Sourcing division chief, stationed at Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling in Washington, D.C., learned of her recognition through a letter sent by NCMA President Elliot B. Branch.

"The NCMA Awards and Honors Working Group voted to honor MaryKathryn Robinson with this prestigious award that recognizes individuals with a remarkable reputation for professionalism and exceptional achievement in Contracts Management," Branch said in the letter. "We are fortunate, indeed, to have in our ranks an individual like you who has contributed so much to our organization and to the profession."

Former Headquarters AFDW Contracting Director retired Col. Timothy Applegate hired Robinson to the AFDW team in 2011 as the Policy Division Chief. She moved to her current position in October 2012.

"NCMA is the leading professional resource for those in the field of contract management," Applegate said. "The organization, which has more than 22,000 members, is dedicated to the professional growth and educational advancement of procurement and acquisition personnel worldwide."

Robinson and her team provide direct contract support to the Headquarters Air Force and Secretary of the Air Force contracting offices by supporting missions to include maintaining a multiple award indefinite delivery and quantity contract valued at $4.7 billion.

"It really meant a lot to me that the AFDW Contracting Directorate leadership nominated me for the award. I appreciate all of their support, both personally and professionally. I see NCMA's award as more recognition of the great work AFDW contracting overall is doing - and I'm glad to be a part of it," said Robinson, who helped Headquarters AFDW Contracting win the Air Force-wide Secretary of the Air Force Contracting Fiscal Year 2012 Large Contracting Directorate Award.

Robinson has been serving the Department of Defense as a contracting officer since December 2003 when she graduated from her internship and wanted to support her country.

"This is a great environment and I've learned so much here at AFDW," she said. "Without the policy division members' and the strategic sourcing division's support I would never have won this award. I appreciate everything they do and continue to do to support the Air Force and AFDW mission."

Robinson will be publicly recognized for her accomplishments July 23 at the NCMA World Congress in Nashville, Tenn. There she will be given a one-year membership to the NCMA, a cash award and complimentary registration to the 2013 World Congress.