Rock Solid Warrior: Staff Sgt. Steven McConnaughy

Published May 19, 2012
386th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs

SOUTHWEST ASIA -- Name: Staff Sgt. Steven McConnaughy

Deployed Unit: 386the Expeditionary Contracting Squadron

Duty Title: Contingency Contracting Officer

Home unit/station: 1st Special Operations Contracting Squadron, Hurlburt Field, Fla.

Family's military heritage: I am the first member of my family to serve

What is your mission here?
In my position I directly support several specific customers: EFSS, AEW, EMDG, and the EMSG. On a day to day basis, I make a wide variety of purchases. This includes large dollar service contracts for maintaining our gym and dining facility equipment, and even smaller purchases such as basketballs, furniture, and port-a-coolers. I think our squadron chant sums up what contracting officers do best: "If you got it, we bought it!"

What are some of the best parts of your mission?
I really enjoy making the purchases that directly impact the morale of the personnel serving here.

What are some of the challenges you face while conducting your mission, and how do you overcome them?
The biggest challenge I face is trying to find exactly what the customer needs on a limited local economy. We are able to overcome this challenge by constantly trying to expand our sources. The more sources we can find the more goods we can source at a competitive price.

How does your job differ in a deployed environment vs. home base?
Our squadron is a whopping 10 people and we make all the purchases for the 386th AEW and the 387th AEG. As you can imagine we stay pretty busy, and the work load is definitely higher paced than at home station. However, my job is far more rewarding while deployed because the purchases I make have an immediate impact on the mission and morale of the personnel serving here.

How many times have you deployed?
I have been deployed twice, both times to the 386th AEW.

What makes this deployment unique?
The unique thing about this deployment is the Contracting Officer's is required to make purchases on the local economy. I have been lucky enough to experience many different forms of Middle Eastern culture, while traveling off base and conducting business with contractors from a wide range of nationalities.

Why did you join the Air Force?
There aren't many jobs in the world that offer the same perks as an Air Force career. I have the opportunity to travel, make a consistent pay check, meet/work with people from all different types of backgrounds, and I get to do all this while serving this great country.