ARMY AL&T
Deployments as a 51C have been defining moments in Johnson’s contracting career, putting all of his training into practice in an operational environment, procuring supplies, services and minor construction in direct support of the warfighter and seeing the tangible impact of his work. He said other important moments were mentoring and mentorship among supe- riors, peers and subordinates. “Learning new skills and techniques from others and then being able to share what I’ve learned over my 10-plus years in contracting has been very important to me.”
Johnson attended the Joint Operational Contract Support (OCS) Planning and Execution Course in October 2021. Te course, which he recommends taking,
really helped him develop new skills and knowledge about OCS planning and execution in a joint environment, which prepared him for supporting Pacific Path- ways exercises while assigned to the 921st Contracting Battalion.
“Some of the advice I have given to newly assessed 51Cs in the past is read the regu- lation, pay attention to the details and be a sponge,” he said. “Government contracting has many rules and regulations; familiariz- ing yourself with the FAR is a great start. In my opinion, success in this career, in part, depends on a keen eye for the details. Always double-check your work and have a peer review it to ensure that everything is accurate and complete. Most importantly, do not be a copy-and-paste bandit.”
Finally, he added, “When you get out into the field after successful completion of the Army Acquisition Transition Course, soak up knowledge from a seasoned contract- ing professional. Shadow them, ask many questions and learn from their expe- riences.”
Johnson has also learned from his expe- riences outside of work. “When my kids were younger, I was always involved with coaching youth sports,” he said. “I was part of the coaching staff for youth foot- ball in Cedar Park, Texas, and a soccer coach at Fort Sam Houston. Many of the leadership skills learned while serving in the Army helped me be a better coach.”
In the contracting field, Johnson attri- butes staying up to date, facilitating the learning process and managing expecta- tions to on-the-job success.” Contracting evolves with new technologies and changes to policies, procedures and regulations. “A 51C must quickly adapt and stay informed about these changes to ensure their work remains effective and compliant. When interacting with requiring activities, you must be able to set clear expectations from the beginning. It is crucial that a 51C communicate realistic timelines, deliver- ables and potential challenges to supported organizations and their leadership,” he said. “Tis proactive communication helps avoid misunderstandings and delays down the road.”
—CHERYL MARINO
COMMANDER’S COIN
Johnson, left, with Master Sgt. Isabel Sierra, Sgt. 1st Class Mark C. Lewis, Maj. Evert Chung and Sgt. 1st Class Ikai Wright, received the commander’s coin for excellence in December 2016 at the Regional Contract Center-Afghanistan during deployment in support of Operation Freedom’s Sentinel. (Photo courtesy of Sgt. 1st Class Ryan D. Johnson)
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