The Contracting Experience Air Force Materiel Command

This episode of The Contracting Experience focuses on artificial Intelligence with guest Lt. Col. Dan Finkenstadt, an officer in the Air Force Contracting Force Development division. Finkenstadt holds a PhD from UNC Chapel Hill and served as a professor at the Naval Post Graduate School for the three years. In this episode, Finkenstadt describes the relationships between Artificial Intelligence, Bots, Machine Learning and Large Language Models while offering use cases, benefits, and risks for Air Force contracting. He also speaks about his role in the DAF Contracting Flight Plan where he is leading a team to foster AI education and training across the contracting workforce



Acronyms:

AI – Artificial Intelligence

ML – Machine Learning

LLM – Large Language Model

DAF – Department of the Air Force

CDAO – Chief Digital and Artificial Intelligence Office

SAF/AQCX – Air Force Contracting Force Development

SAF/CN – Air Force Chief Information Officer


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The Contracting Experience Podcast partnered with the Air Force Materiel Command’s Small Business Directorate to interview two business leaders of women-owned small businesses who have successfully entered the Department of the Air Force market and demonstrated their capabilities and commitment to the Air Force mission. They are Jaqueline Gamblin, Chief Executive Officer of JYG Innovations, and Lisa Coker, Chief Executive Officer of Infinite Management Solutions.

The Department of the Air Force and Air Force Materiel Command have a phenomenal small business program setting new records of small business spend, significantly exceeding the small business goals established for both. This is excellent news as we collectively work to strengthen our industrial base and leverage small business innovation to meet mission need. Yet, one area we historically struggle in is the number of women-owned small business and spend – or in contract terms – the number of contract awards and obligations.

Women-owned small businesses have successfully entered and performed in the Department of Defense marketplace. In this conversation, we discuss what challenges these women owned small businesses have faced in doing business with the government and how the acquisition community can partner with women-owned small businesses to better collaborate and execute Air Force missions.

***This podcast episode and the mention or appearance of external links does not constitute or imply official endorsement on behalf of the U.S. Department of the Air Force or Department of Defense. The Department of the Air Force does not endorse any non-federal entities, companies, products, or services. Moreover, the Department of the Air Force does not exercise any responsibility or oversight of the content at external link destinations mentioned during this podcast. The views expressed within this podcast are those of the host and guests and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the Department of the Air Force, the Department of Defense, or the U.S. government.

Acronyms:
WOSB – Women-Owned Small Business
RFI – Request for Information
RFP – Request for Proposal


Guests:
Jaqueline Gamblin
Chief Executive Officer
JYG Innovations
https://www.jyginnovations.com

Lisa Coker
Chief Executive Officer
Infinite Management Solutions
https://teamims.net


If you would like to share feedback on the podcast, please submit via thecontractingexperience@gmail.com.

Register at https://www.dvidshub.net/ to access transcripts of the podcast.

In this episode of The Contracting Experience podcast we sit down with Head of Air Force Contracting, Maj. Gen .Alice Trevino. Trevino talks about the Great Power Competition and what contracting’s role will be in optimizing the Air Force towards this mission. She also addresses where we are going with digital transformation in Air Force Acquisition and some of the top initiatives contracting professionals can get involved with in 2024. Trevino also advises the workforce on her top areas to focus on as we optimize for the Great Power Competition.

Acronyms:
AF CIO – Air Force Chief Information Officer
SAF/CN – Air Force Office of the Chief Information Officer
ATO – Authority to Operate
LOE – Line of Effort
AI – Artificial Intelligence
SBIR – Small Business Innovation Research
AETC – Air Education and Training Command
GSA – General Services Administration

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In this episode, we sit down with Capt. Alicia Binggeli, Heather Carino, and Capt. Oleksandr Bakuta who are Air Force contracting professionals who have completed Education with Industry (EWI) fellowships. Alicia, Heather, and Oleksandr share their experiences working with 8VC, SpaceX, and Intel Capital. They each discuss what they found impactful during their EWI fellowships as well as how contracting professionals can start applying their lessons learned today.

Acronyms:
EWI – Education with Industry
I2I – Insights to Industry
RFP – Request for Proposal
RFI – Request for Information
DAU – Defense Acquisition University
NSIN – National Security Innovation Network
VC – Venture Capital

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In this episode, we learn about the Air Force Acquisition Toolbox. There are three contracting folks that are part of this conversation. Two of the individuals are members of the SAF/AQC Operational Imperative Field Support Team, Elizabeth Midkiff and Laura Fuller, and the third person is Air Force Materiel Command Contract Data Specialist, Justin Lyles. In this conversation you’ll learn about what the Acquisition Toolbox is and how it is supported for effectiveness to assist acquisition teams in using the latest tools. You will also get insights into how you can start using the Acquisition Toolbox today to enhance your acquisitions.

Acronyms:
DoD – Department of Defense
DAF – Department of the Air Force
OT – Other Transaction
AI – Artificial Intelligence
NASA – National Aeronautics and Space Administration

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In this episode, we sit down with Roger Westermeyer, Director of Enterprise Solutions Support at the Air Force Installation Contracting Center. Roger partnered with Defense Acquisition University to develop a course on critical thinking. He discusses how we can apply critical thinking to the acquisition process. Roger also gives insight into where you can start if you’re interested in learning more about how to better think critically.

Acronyms:
ASP – Acquisition Strategy Panel

Defense Acquisition University Critical Thinking Course:
https://rise.articulate.com/share/IoQ0U_gdvvzhaqcgMxHwKJi3_wKrvGJV#/

Foundation for Critical Thinking:
https://community.criticalthinking.org/index.php

The School of Thought:
https://www.schoolofthought.org/

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