MASTER SGT. KEITA N. LYLES
COMMAND/ORGANIZATION: 902nd Contract- ing Battalion, 418th Contracting Support Brigade
TITLE: Battalion sergeant major and senior enlisted adviser YEARS OF SERVICE IN WORKFORCE: 8 YEARS OF MILITARY SERVICE: 20 DAWIA CERTIFICATIONS: Level III in contracting
EDUCATION: B.S. in business administration, Columbia Southern University; associate degree in general studies, Colorado Technical University
AWARDS: Joint Service Commendation Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal (four oak leaf clusters (OLCs)), Army Achieve- ment Medal (four OLCs), Meritorious Unit Citation, Army Superior Unit Award, Army Good Conduct Medal (fifth clasp), National Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal (one campaign star), Iraqi Campaign Medal (two campaign stars), Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Korea Defense Service Medal, Noncommissioned Officer Professional Devel- opment Ribbon (Numeral 3), Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon (Numeral 7), NATO Medal, Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal, Driver’s Badge, Sharpshooter Qualification Badge, German Armed Forces Badge for Military Proficiency (Gold), Transportation Corps Distinguished Order of St. Chris- topher Award, Sergeant Audie Murphy Award
SMALL GROUP LEAVES BIG FOOTPRINT
W
hen Master Sgt. Keita Lyles joined Army acquisition in 2010, the noncommissioned officer (NCO) acquisition community was relatively small. But being part of a small community has paid big dividends, easing the transition to a new mili-
tary occupational specialty—51C, acquisition—and helping her find mentors and advisers she continues to rely on. “I’ve been very fortunate to find several leaders across my career path—51Cs as well as non-acquisition personnel— and I’ve pulled on their jacket tails and consistently sought their advice.”
Lyles, battalion sergeant major and senior enlisted adviser for the 902nd Contracting Battalion at Joint Base Lewis – McChord, Washington, came to acquisition from the Transportation Corps. “A friend of mine at the time who was part of the original group of NCOs who transferred to the 51C career field mentioned to me that switching over was a good career choice to look into,” she said. At the time, Lyles was in Germany, preparing for a 15-month deployment as a squad leader and mission commander. “After expe- riencing as many leadership roles as I could, there were only a few remaining growth opportunities in transportation, and I knew it was time for a change. I thought that [switching to the Acquisition Corps] would not only benefit my career and my family—it was also the best option for when I make the transition to the private sector after retirement.”
Te transition from transportation to acquisition “was a little scary at first,” she conceded. “After being somewhat of an expert in my old career field
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Army AL&T Magazine
Spring 2019
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