WORKFORCE
lessons made me question whether applying for this program was the right decision for me. I remember thinking, “Here I am in law school, having had an unlimited contracting warrant at one time in my career, and I am learning the basic differences between a supply and service contract.”
I feared the entire program would rival my experience obtain- ing my advanced certification in the contracting career field at Defense Acquisition University (DAU). I don’t mean that to be a slight against DAU—the MSL program was a completely different experience from the practical training approach DAU takes. Two significant differences between the MSL program and DAU’s certification program is that you are learning with and from other students who want to be there, as opposed to students who are there because they have to be per the Defense Acquisition Workforce Improvement Act. You are also getting the perspectives and opinions from contractor representatives, whereas DAU’s courses are generally restricted to only DOD employees assigned to acquisition-coded positions.
Lastly, although I had a love-hate relationship with the writing requirements, I was oblivious to how much writing I’d have to do. While you don’t have to love writing, you certainly have to like it, or you may struggle to motivate yourself to complete the assignments or do well in the program.
Beyond being surrounded by brilliant students and faculty, GW Law teaches you the “why”—What were lawmakers aiming to achieve or prevent when they enacted relevant acquisition-related laws?—which is intended to help students evolve into leaders who will later develop policies impacting their agencies and even the federal government. Te MSL program does a great job chal- lenging you to look at legal issues from all perspectives (not just through a government lens) and has contractor representatives enrolled in the program who can share their practical examples. Tus, the MSL program has a distinct advantage in developing a more well-rounded contracting professional.
WHAT’S NEXT? Now that I’ve graduated, the question I have gotten the most is, “Now what?” In the future, I plan to become more involved in federal acquisition policies—creating, dissolving and reform- ing. However, for now, I intend to use my studies to significantly expand the contracting advisory support I provide to my current team, the NGCV CFT. Given that the team is responsible for the Army’s second overall modernization priority—lead- ing the way in changing how new capabilities are developed and procured—this degree has put me in a credible position to
question long-established local practices with an increased knowl- edge and understanding.
Ultimately, the skills I acquired from the MSL program have allowed me to advise more dynamically than I could previ- ously, so that I can better assist other acquisition workforce members to maintain and improve the Army’s ability to win in a complex world.
I would love to see ODASA(P) expand this program to incorpo- rate a developmental rotation to additional relevant acquisition positions that may be more difficult to enter as a candidate outside that office. One example might be a policy area within the Department of the Army.
CONCLUSION For those acquisition professionals who may be contemplating the program—in case it was not obvious—I highly encourage you to leap. Tis program will not only advance your ability to examine government procurement rules and procedures in context with policy analysis, but it will also strengthen your critical think- ing skills, improve your writing and enlarge and diversify your professional network.
If you are on the fence about it or want to ask specific questions, please do not hesitate to contact me directly at
corey.l.richards5.
civ@army.mil.
For more information about the program, go to
https://www.law.gwu.edu/msl.
COREY L. RICHARDS works as an acquisition analyst and contracting adviser to the Next-Generation Combat Vehicles Cross- Functional Team. She provides guidance on regulatory compliance and competition strategies to ensure stakeholder decisions synchronize with Army modernization priorities and objectives. She holds an MBA from Walsh College and a B.S. in general management from Oakland University. Additionally, she recently earned her Master of Studies in Law from Te George Washington University Law School. She is a certified contracting professional and holds the DAWIA Advanced certification in program management.
https://
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