Two DOD contracting officers receive top acquisition awards - In The News

Program Manager, July-August, 2003

DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE NEWS RELEASE (JUNE 13, 2003)

Two Department of Defense contracting officers were recognized June 12 for their innovative and cutting-edge business practices. Charles Bright, U.S. Special Operations Command, MacDill Air Force Base, Fla., and Nancy Gunderson, Pentagon Renovation Program, received their individual awards at a dinner ceremony as part of the 3rd Annual Federal Acquisition Conference held this week at the Sheraton Premier Hotel, Tysons Corner, Va.

Bright was presented the Ida Ustad Award for Excellence in Acquisition by Steven Perry, Administrator of the General Services Administration (GSA), which sponsors that award named in honor of the late Ida Mae Ustad, a former Deputy Associate Administrator at GSA. Bright was recognized for his significant contributions directly supporting the global war on terrorism and for developing the contract to equip MH-53M helicopters with a new defensive system.

Gunderson received the Elmer B. Staats Young Acquisition Professional Excellence Award from Bill Turtle of the Procurement Round Table. She is the first-ever recipient of this award sponsored by the Procurement Round Table in cooperation with the Procurement Executives Council. The award is named in honor of the former Comptroller General of the United States. Gunderson was lauded for managing approximately $1 billion in project contracts, including the post 9/11 Pentagon reconstruction, known as the Phoenix Project.