An official website of the United States government
Here's how you know
A .mil website belongs to an official U.S. Department of Defense organization in the United States.
A lock (lock ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .mil website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

News | May 15, 2020

My DCMA: Micheal Uhrig

By Elizabeth Szoke DCMA Public Affairs

My DCMA showcases the Defense Contract Management Agency’s experienced and diverse workforce and highlights what being a part of the national defense team means to them. Today we meet Micheal Uhrig using Microsoft Teams video teleconferencing and recording capabilities. Press "play" above to watch his short interview.

My name is Micheal Uhrig, and this is “My DCMA.”
I am a DCMA IT New England field service technician and I have been with the agency for six years. I have an associates in network technology and bachelor’s in industrial technology/Network Technology.
The bulk of my work is to provide direct support to agency personnel. This consists of mostly working to resolve tickets either when taking calls on the service desk or resolving my locally based tickets in my area of responsibility that could not be fixed when people call the service desk. This also includes managing all the computer and mobile assets that are issued to over 330 people that I and my two co-workers directly support out of our area. Our area of responsibility is from Vermont through Western Massachusetts and almost all of Connecticut, excluding the south western most area.
I am a Local Wireless Admin, or LWA and Cyber Security Analyst, or CSA.
LWAs are responsible for higher level management, tracking and reporting on wireless devices for their specific sectors. Whenever there is a mass deployment of iPhones we are very busy. CSAs are the ones who have to do the tracking and fixing of computers that are not maintaining compliance when it comes to the required patching and updates.
The pandemic brought unexpected changes in the way the whole agency operates. In IT, we have had to accept the fact that things will change and change fast. I have always wanted to stay in the know, so at a minimum I would check my emails even when not working, just to make sure there were no surprises from my regular day off or a weekend.
The biggest challenge I’ve had to personally overcome is being OK with going without the things that were planned long in advanced. My wife and I had a cruise that we paid almost 2 years in advance for, which got suspended due to the COVID-19 impact, and we’re still unsure of what’s going to happen with that.
I know the impacts of this pandemic has hit everyone in different ways.
With work, we have all been impacted by network availability or latency. You’re not alone in this and we are all suffering from the effects of the massive change in how the internet is being used. There are so many variables that go into what has to work, from our agency’s network connection, the different internet providers, the number of simultaneous users and so many other technical variables.
Ultimately don’t wait forever to call the service desk or submit a service center ticket if you’re able to get onto SharePoint. We are here to help. Additionally, your calls help our leaders discover new issues, troubleshoot and find solutions, which could help save others from running into the same issues that you did. Your calls go to IT representatives like me, so you are getting the same technically enabled people as your local IT.
I have some life lessons that help me when dealing with the stress that can come from this type of industry.
First: Treat every morning as a new chance to show that you can be stronger and smarter than the issues that may arise.
Second: Help those on your team that might be having more issues than you. Never forget that we are in this together and feel free to ask as many questions as you want.
Last: End every encounter with “Thank you for your time.” If we treat every moment someone gives to us as a gift, we will be happier. Remember when someone chooses to talk to you or help you, that is time they cannot give to someone else or use on themselves.