IT’S ALL ABOUT BALANCE
In the contracting world, where things can get tough, and deployments happen— making sure family comes first isn’t always easy. But after 20 plus years of lessons learned throughout his Army career, solid support from mentors, his wife and a great deal of teamwork, Master Sgt. Payten E. Redfearn can honestly say he’s achieved a pretty great work-life balance.
“Handling work challenges while taking care of family, has been a constant learning experience,” he said. “Putting these lessons into action means more than just knowing it; it means actively trying to find the right balance. Figuring out when work or personal life needs more attention has been key to keeping things in check.”
MASTER SGT. PAYTEN E. REDFEARN
COMMAND/ORGANIZATION: Army Contracting Command
TITLE: G-3/5 Strategic Concepts noncommis- sioned officer in charge YEARS OF SERVICE IN WORKFORCE: 10 YEARS OF MILITARY SERVICE: 21
DAWIA CERTIFICATIONS: DOD contracting professional
EDUCATION: MBA in finance; B.S. in busi- ness administration, both from Post University
AWARDS: Meritorious Service Medal (3 oak leaf clusters)
Tis is paramount for his position as the G-35 Strategic Concepts Division noncommis- sioned officer in charge for the Army Contracting Command, where Redfearn plays a crucial role in shaping the future contract force. By providing mission support to vari- ous commands and organizations, he contributes to the readiness and effectiveness of the Army’s contracting capabilities.
One of the most recent projects his section has worked on is the Army Contracting Command Supplement to Army Techniques Publication 4-71, which is still in staffing, but once approved it will detail how contracting support brigades deploy in support of Army operations (including large scale combat operations). “Tis will be a huge step forward in how we support operations worldwide and will ensure that we’re better prepared to deploy in all environments,” he said. “I joke all of the time that our section is focused on ‘good ideas’. Taking the lessons we’ve learned from being in the field and creating policies and updating regulations to better support our contracting profession- als that are still out there.”
When Redfearn joined the Army Acquisition Workforce in 2014, it was with a strong commitment to addressing critical logistical gaps for Soldiers in the field.
“My journey began as a contract specialist at Army Contracting Command, Aberdeen Proving Ground (ACC-APG). In this role, I had the invaluable opportunity to learn the intricacies of contracting, while benefiting from the mentorship of my civilian counter- parts at ACC-APG. Teir guidance and willingness to coach me through the nuances of contracting were instrumental in my professional development,” he said. “Additionally, during my time at ACC-APG, I deployed to Iraq to contribute to the Contract Admin- istration Services (CAS) mission, further deepening my understanding of the vital role contracting plays in supporting our military operations. Tis hands-on experience solid- ified my dedication to shaping the future of the contracting force and ensuring the best possible support for our Soldiers.”
He said the two most pivotal moments in his career within the Army Acquisition Workforce were his assignment in the 409th Contracting Support Brigade (CSB) from 2017-2020 and his role in designing the Mission and Installation Contracting Command (MICC) Master Gunner Program in 2022.
74 Army AL&T Magazine Fall 2024
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