UNIT: Army Contracting Command, CCAM-CH CH-47 Cargo
POSITION: Director, Cargo Contracts
AAC MEMBER SINCE: 2005
TOTAL YEARS OF ARMY SERVICE: 30
AWARDS: Contract Professional of the Year; Secretary of the Army Team Award (Partnering Division); Secretary of Army Team Award (CH-47 MY II); Army Acquisition Excellence Award
EDUCATION: M.S. in contracts and acquisition management, Florida Institute of Technology; B.S. in business management, Jackson State University
What do you do and why is it important to the warfighter?
As director of cargo contracts, I direct the Army Contracting Command (ACC) cargo personnel who provide direct contract support to PM Cargo. Three platforms are supported: fleet management inside and outside the continental U.S.; modernization, including upgrades and foreign military sales; and CH-47 production. The CH-47 helicopter is the workhorse of DOD, used extensively to move soldiers and supplies in support of the Army’s mission of protecting the interests of the United States. Contract support is critical in ensuring that the aircraft and the associated supplies and services are solicited, evaluated, negotiated, awarded and administered in a timely and efficient manner so as to not impede or degrade the Army mission.
What are some of the milestones you’ve achieved?
I’ve received the Contract Professional of the Quarter award on three occasions. As a young contracting officer I was handpicked to provide contract support to the Communications-Electronics Command (CECOM) program manager for a 10-year requirement for Common Hardware/Software (CHS-3). CECOM chose to use Army Aviation and Missile Command’s contracting expertise because of their reputation for excellence. The effort was performed as a source selection evaluation board. I received the Contract Professional of the Year award in FY03 for my efforts. The Partnering Division team that I supervised, which provided support to the Integrated Material Management Center and the Corpus Christi Army Depot customers, received the Secretary of the Army Award for Outstanding Unit/Team for FY2007. I was part of a team that was responsible for soliciting, evaluating and negotiating the CH-47 Multi-Year II contract, valued at $4.9 billion. That effort resulted in more than $800 million in savings to the taxpayer, and our team received the prestigious Secretary of the Army Award for 2013 and the 2013 Army Acquisition Excellence Award in the Transforming the Way We Do Business category.
What is your greatest satisfaction in being part of the Army Acquisition Corps?
The greatest satisfaction I get from being part of the Army Acquisition Corps is the pride that comes from being part of such a distinctive group. To make it to this level and be part of a dedicated group of professionals who have one common goal that of supporting the Soldier in the field is truly rewarding and gratifying. Being part of the Army Acquisition Corps prepositions the member to be more closely involved in our nation’s best interests.
Roderick Matthews’ work on the CH-47 Multi-Year II contract, valued at $4.9 billion, resulted in $800 million in savings to the taxpayer, and earned his team the Secretary of the Army Award for 2013 and the 2013 Army Acquisition Excellence Award in the Transforming the Way We Do Business category.
In celebration of the silver anniversary of the Army Acquisition Corps (AAC), Access is publishing “25 for 25” — twenty-five profiles of members of the AAC across the Army Acquisition Workforce. These profiles provide unique insight into the variety and importance of the work done by the AAC every day.
