HOUSTON –
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, Beverly Welsh shares her story.
My name is Beverly Welsh, and this is “My DCMA.”
I am an administrative contracting officer at the Contract Lifecycle Management Center here. The center was previously known as the Contract Closeout Center.
My job duties are to effectively achieve contract closeout and reduce the number of DCMA’s assigned overage contracts. This includes ensuring the final indirect rates have been settled and the proper supporting documentation is included with the contractor’s final voucher submission. Ultimately, I verify that all contract actions are complete and that adequate records have been obtained in order to safeguard the government’s best interest. This requires me to have a comprehensive knowledge of the contract life cycle and DCMA’s policies and procedures.
I have been a part of the DCMA team for five years. I started my agency career at DCMA Aircraft Integrated Maintenance Operations Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, as the contract administrator for the C-32 and C-40 executive fleet.
In January 2020, I joined the CLMC here and subsequently obtained my ACO warrant. I was recently selected to participate in the centralized Emerging Leaders Program.
I am excited to build my professional network through this program, as well as through job-shadowing assignments. I am also learning to sharpen my public speaking skills through team projects, which is bringing out my creative side. Most importantly, I will stay abreast of DCMA’s policies and procedures in order to support my team and protect the taxpayers’ and warfighters’ best interest.
I value the excellent team collaboration at my location, which ensures every member has a comprehensive knowledge of the processes. Our director encourages all of us to share our individual time-saving approaches to fine tune the closeout process.
I enjoy working at DCMA because of the agency’s encouragement and support in fostering a learning environment. I was able to obtain my Defense Acquisition Workforce Improvement Act, also known as DAWIA, Level III certification in contracting and a Master of Science in aerospace administration and logistics concurrently. The ability to integrate training and mentoring into your daily agenda is part of the agency culture and is key in this fast-paced environment.
DCMA is important to America’s warfighters because we support the full spectrum of military operations around the world. These operations depend on us to ensure contractors are not overpaid for supplies and services. Furthermore, it is important to return vital funding back to the buying activities in order for them to reuse that funding for new procurements.
Since DCMA celebrated its 20th anniversary last year, I am excited to see the agency continue to implement new telework policies. Enabling the government to reduce its square footage will be a significant cost savings. This money can be used to fund warfighters more urgent needs.
The new policies will also play an integral role in helping to reduce the environmental impact of emissions. In the past, employees around the country primarily commuted to work each day. In 2001, I was driving daily to a sales position that could have easily been done from my home. Today, I am fortunate to have the ability to telework.
Since I started working at DCMA in 2016, I have seen it become stronger. As the budget was reduced and positions have gone unfilled, the agency has become more resourceful and learned to do more with less. We have all learned to excel in a virtual environment and to embrace our “new normal.”
My future career goals include continuing my leadership training in order to become an effective supervisor. In addition, I plan to obtain teaching credits to become an instructor at Embry Riddle Aeronautical University or the Defense Acquisition University after I retire from DCMA.
My favorite hobbies include listening to music, interior design and baton twirling. I enjoy traveling to Florida to see my family. I like to spend time with my two Yorkshire terrier pups. I also enjoy spending quality time with my two sons and my husband. My husband and I recently celebrated 19 years together.
Something unique about me is that prior to embarking on my federal career, I obtained a radiography degree and worked at two different Florida hospitals. Part of my daily job duties were spent in the radiology reading room, emergency room and special procedures operating suites.