Professor brings academic perspective, experience to MTMC - Brief Article

Translog: Journal of Military Transportation Management, March-April, 2001

As the crow flies, it is a long way from Fort Lee, Va., to the Military Traffic Management Command Headquarters.

At the Defense Acquisition University, Al Wilder is a professor in contact management.

It is a job he has held for the past four years.

In a given school year, Wilder instructs three different courses and troches approximately 1,200 students.

Wilder does a good job--but he wants to do better. So he accepted his university's offer of a chance to spend time in a regular work office.

MTMC was an easy choice.

"The command is very active," said Wilder. "I'm also impressed with its global basis contracting effort."

For a week in February--and with additional time later--he is working at MTMC's Contracting Directorate in order to keep pace with the contracting marketplace.

Most of his military and civilian career, Wilder has been teaching the art of contracting in the classroom.

A chance to revisit the work place is a bonus for an instructor, said Wilder.

Is it what he expected?

"Yes," said Wilder. Preparation of a contract can take anywhere from a month to a year. There is constant research for the applicability of the Federal Acquisition Regulation, laws and local policies."

Wilder's first day on the job was Feb. 5.

He was shown a computer station and went fight to work.

His first job was a tough one: Was stevedoring a good candidate for multi-year contracting?

"I researched case studies from the law library, used the Internet quite extensively and called industry contacts," said Wilder.

"Different cases support the theory of using multi-year contracts versus other methods available to the contracting officer."

There are unique issues with the contract, such as funding and union vs. non-union requirements, that suggest a multi-year contract is best, he said.

He also reviewed the MTMC contracts on fresh fruits and vegetables, and the command's manual, titled "Training Technical Personnel for Monitoring Contracts."

Wilder is finding some of his most informative trine is talking over coffee with contracting employees.

"I've learned as much from the people as the research," said Wilder. "MTMC has a highly knowledgeable and talented team."

He said he has enjoyed conversations with Joyce Grudzinski, Lynn Strickland, Brenda Keiper, Christina Dossman and Col. Sheila Toner in contracting, and Bill Dowell, in legal.

"I've been to Bosnia and several contingencies throughout my career," said Wilder. "The field experiences gives me lessons to draw on for my classes."

Dossman says the exchange has been a win-win situation.

"It allows us to take advantage of this knowledge," said Dossman. "We are getting the theory and practice taught at the Defense Acquisition University at Fort Lee.

Wilder has been in acquisition for 25 years--both as an Army officer, contractor, and now Department of Defense professor. He retired from the military after 28 years service in 1991.

Will we see him again at MTMC?

"I plan to stay in touch with the office via e-mail," said Wilder. "I hope to come back on an extended visit in the future."