BE PROACTIVE, NOT REACTIVE – MICHELLE MYLES-WILSON

Michelle Myles-Wilson

COMMAND/ORGANIZATION: Army Contracting Command – Detroit Arsenal
TITLE: Contract specialist
YEARS OF SERVICE IN AAW: 7
DAWIA CERTIFICATIONS: Contracting professional
EDUCATION: M.S. in management, Troy University; B.S. in engineering management, Western Michigan University

by Cheryl Marino

When unexpected challenges arise, some wait to see how things unfold, while others step forward with solutions. For contracting professional Michelle Myles-Wilson, flexibility and adaptability aren’t just helpful traits, they’re essential. By staying proactive, instead of reactive, she’s able to turn uncertainty into opportunity.

“The most important lesson I’ve learned is the power of flexibility and adaptability. In today’s ever-changing environment, unexpected challenges and shifting priorities happen too often. Being able to adjust plans, embrace new information and remain focused on the goal is so vital,” Myles-Wilson said. “My primary objective is to be proactive rather than reactive—anticipating potential bottlenecks and developing contingency plans to ensure continued progress toward achieving acquisition goals help keep the ball rolling and shape a ‘day in the life’ of acquisitions and contracting.”

Within the Acquisition Services Division, Myles-Wilson manages incoming contracting requests from various customers throughout Army Contracting Command (ACC) – Detroit Arsenal (DTA), primarily supporting the Intelligence Command. The process, she said, “starts with conducting market research all the way through to contract award and administration ensuring compliance with federal regulations.” This directly supports the Army’s mission by providing essential goods and services at a fair and reasonable price ultimately equipping and sustaining the warfighter.

“The support and compassion demonstrated by my leaders, and the collaborative spirit of our teams, are essential to mission success,” she said. Her experience within the Army, particularly at ACC, make it a truly rewarding experience. “Contributing to the logistical backbone that allows Soldiers to operate effectively, regardless of location, is incredibly gratifying,” she said. “It’s fulfilling to apply my skills to ensure they have the resources they need to accomplish their objectives.”

Myles-Wilson transitioned to the Army Acquisition Workforce (AAW) after several years in the automotive industry, where she began her career as a packaging engineer and ended as a senior purchasing and logistics specialist; holding many roles and managing suppliers and procurement processes for vehicle component parts.

“This experience provided a strong foundation in program management, contract negotiation and supplier relationship management—skills directly transferable to acquisition,” she explained. “I joined the AAW seeking a role where I could leverage these skills to support a mission-driven organization and contribute to national security.”

Myles-Wilson’s first acquisition position as contract specialist involved procuring software subscriptions and cell phone and mobile services to support Army operations worldwide. “I was immediately drawn to the strategic importance of the work—ensuring our Soldiers could effectively communicate and operate in diverse environments.”

Her primary goal after joining the AAW was to excel in the internship program and obtain her contracting certification. The ACC Internship program is designed to support contracting career growth from entry level to journeyman, where a cohort of new contracting specialists complete a foundational four-week Buyer Bootcamp. According to Myles-Wilson, “the program offers foundational training in contracting, the leadership team is introduced, and career-long relationships and friendships are formed.” After completing Buyer Bootcamp and progressing through the certification process, she successfully achieved this goal, demonstrating a strong commitment to professional development and expertise in the field. She is now focused on expanding her knowledge of specialized acquisition regulations and seeking opportunities to lead more complex procurement projects.

In addition to achieving certification, Myles-Wilson said her career with the AAW has been significantly shaped by strong mentorship, targeted training and most notably, her participation in the Acquisition Exchange Program. The Defense Pricing, Contracting, and Acquisition Policy Acquisition Exchange Program offers a unique career developmental experience, providing participants insight into, and experience in, the development and implementation of DOD-wide acquisition policy.

“Participating in the Acquisition Exchange Program – Contract Policy Directorate of Defense Pricing, Contract and Acquisition Policy allowed me to directly contribute to [DoW]-wide policies impacting all military components and the fourth estate [a network of agencies within the [DoW] that provide specialized, essential functions outside of the traditional military departments],” she said. “This career broadening experience provided me with mentorship from action officers that oversee policies that correspond with FAR [Federal Acquisition Regulation]/DFARS [Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement] parts, workforce development and acquisition pilot programs like the Pilot Program to Incentivize Contracting with Employee-Owned Businesses (ESOP) enacted by laws and statutes.”

This year’s program participated in supporting the FAR overhaul rewrite and requests received directly from the Department of Government Efficiency, commonly known as DOGE, the office responsible for identifying and implementing initiatives to improve efficiency across the government. Myles-Wilson received a crucial strategic perspective and reinforced her commitment to sound acquisition practices and collaborative policy development, ultimately strengthening her ability to support the warfighter.

“My career with the Army Acquisition Workforce has been significantly shaped by developmental opportunities, like the Acquisition Exchange Program,” she said. “Further enhancing my professional growth, I completed the DACM [Director of Acquisition Career Management] ALCP [Acquisition Leadership Challenge Program] leadership training in May 2024. This program was instrumental in developing my leadership skills while fostering critical thinking and self-reflection and emphasized the importance of proactive communication and collaboration across functional areas.”

Myles-Wilson has implemented this by cultivating stronger relationships with stakeholders throughout the acquisition process, resulting in smoother project execution with all stakeholders and improved contract outcomes. This has benefited her organization by streamlining processes and reducing potential delays.

“Additionally, the Student Loan Repayment Program has greatly incentivized my continued commitment to the AAW, providing valuable assistance in reducing my personal debt,” she said. This annual program, managed by the DACM Office, is to designed to repay federally insured student loans as a retention incentive for eligible civilian acquisition employees with critical acquisition skills. “Reducing student loan debt improved my financial stability and allowed me to focus more on my career by completing the certification program and planning to stay with the Army for the long haul,” she said.

Myles-Wilson said she would advise junior acquisition personnel to actively seek mentorship, embrace continuous learning and never underestimate the importance of attention to detail.

“Understanding the ‘why’ behind regulations is just as crucial as knowing the ‘what.’ Do not be afraid to ask questions and leverage the expertise of seasoned professionals,” she said. “Learning the regulations and processes can take years to learn and understand, have patience and build great relationships while learning.”

Outside of work, Myles-Wilson is known for her creativity and problem-solving abilities—often demonstrated through complex home improvement projects and meticulous planning for quick, impactful weekend getaways. This translates directly to my work in acquisition, she said, “where identifying problems to improve and resolve, mitigating risks and developing execution plans are essential for success and supporting the needs of the warfighter, so they can receive the goods and services our teams strategically procure day in and day out.”

“Faces of the Force” highlights the success of the Army Acquisition Workforce through the power of individual stories. Profiles are produced by the Behind The Frontlines team, working closely with public affairs officers to feature Soldiers and civilians serving in various Army acquisition disciplines. For more information, or to nominate someone, go to https://asc.army.mil/web/army-btf/.

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