Defense Contract Management Agency Atlanta is this year’s recipient of the Directors Cup. The award recognizes a DCMA office that has improved performance methods to advance the agency’s strategic mission and vision.
Air Force Lt. Gen. Wendy Masiello, DCMA director, presented the award to Navy Cmdr. Nicola Gathright, commander of DCMA Atlanta, and Vivian Hill, Atlanta’s deputy director, Nov. 3, at a reception in Colonial Heights. Leaders from across the agency are in the Fort Lee area this week for the Commanders Forum, which is being held at the installation’s Army Logistics University.
“DCMA Atlanta is one of the top-performing Contract Management Offices in the agency,” wrote Gathright in the nomination packet. “We embrace a culture and model that sets the example as the best CMO through implementing processes and procedures which are consistent, and exemplify DCMA’s mission statement. Daily engagement with our customers and incorporation of the agency vision ‘one team, one voice, delivering global acquisition insight that matters’ is the standard for our daily practices.”
DCMA Atlanta performs post-award contract administration services in the states of Georgia and South Carolina and reports to the Eastern Regional Command. The organization covers 88,015 square miles, with nine operations teams across the office.
“We manage over 460 contractors and 8,500 contracts totaling $15 billion in contract value,” said Gathright. “We currently count 121 employees on board and serve as host/hotel to the largest number, 129, of business partners across the agency. Our primary mission is to ensure continuous warrior readiness by delivering actionable acquisition insight from the factory floor to the front line. We achieve this by delivering superior contract management services while providing proactive customer-focused support.”
Gathright said senior leaders at DCMA Atlanta are big proponents of leadership training and mentoring. The organization has a partnership with the Atlanta Federal Executive Board for employees to gain leadership training and network with other federal employees in the area to share best practices and lessons learned.
“Attracting, retaining and developing the best, highly-skilled employees are top priorities for DCMA Atlanta,” said Gathright. “Our CMO is committed to attracting the best and the brightest talent.”
Gathright also noted that mentoring helped reduce workforce turnover. She said mentors are assigned to all entry-level employees and ongoing mentoring is encouraged.
“Our top-down mentoring involvement ensures knowledge and insight gained from decades of technical and leadership experiences are transferred to the next generation of the CMO’s specialists and leaders,” said Gathright. “By embracing and keeping our focus on continuous mentoring and training, we continue to attract superior talent from industry while proactively growing our existing talent pool.”