FORT LEE, Va. –
My DCMA showcases the Defense Contract Management Agency’s experienced and dedicated workforce and highlights what being a part of the national defense team means to them. Today, Katee Waydula shares her story.
My name is Katee Waydula, and this is "My DCMA."
I am a security specialist assigned to DCMA headquarters where I advise personnel on information security, or INFOSEC, and operations security, or OPSEC practices, policies and procedures. I also provide agency-wide Controlled Unclassified Information training and guidance.
I am DCMA’s Naval Nuclear Propulsion Information Control Officer and a contracting officer’s representative for multiple agency-wide support contracts. I also assist in developing and implementing operational policies, procedures, programs, and standards as required to ensure the efficient and effective implementation of the OPSEC and INFOSEC programs.
Working here allows me to collaborate with commands across the organization, both stateside and overseas. I’ve traveled internationally to contractor facilities and worked directly with foreign mission partners at the operational level – an experience few people get. Those opportunities gave me a big-picture understanding of my role and the agency’s role in the broader War Department mission. Sometimes it’s easy to feel like a little fish in a big pond, but this work shows me how my contributions directly support DCMA’s global impact.
Our foreign mission partners are critical assets, and building those relationships has had a lasting professional impact on me. My husband, also a federal employee, often says, “security doesn’t stop at the gate.” His words resonate with me because my role ensures DCMA personnel are trained and educated to protect our assets, personnel and information on and off duty.
Strong leadership is the primary reason I enjoy working at DCMA – from my immediate chain of command to senior agency leadership. Their clear communication and authentic concern for the workforce make working here a rewarding experience – even during challenging times.
In my role, I apply and strengthen my people skills, critical thinking and conflict-resolution abilities while supporting a mission I’m passionate about. I’m grateful for the opportunities my positions provides.
DCMA acts as a critical link between the military and defense contractors, by providing quality assurance, managing contracts and overseeing the acquisition process, which directly impacts warfighters' safety and mission readiness. The agency serves as the "eyes and ears" of the warfighter at contractor facilities, ensuring contractors meet the required standards.
Professionally, I aim to earn additional certifications and continue advancing within my team. Security is not just my profession, it’s my passion. I want to help drive meaningful improvements in how we implement, write and train security policy, with a global impact alongside our foreign partners.
Some unique things about me are I have an identical twin sister named Kasee; I’m debilitatingly afraid of balloons; and I’ve read the entire “Twilight” series 17 times. Outside of work and cheering on our three kids at sporting events, I enjoy true-crime podcasts and yoga.