Rock Solid Warrior

SOUTHWEST ASIA -- Senior Airman David Moreno, 386th Expeditionary Contracting Squadron contracting officer, is deployed from the 21st Contracting Squadron at Peterson Air Force Base, Colo. Airman Moreno is on his first deployment to Southwest Asia. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Courtney Richardson)

ROCK SOLID WARRIOR

Published Jan. 20, 2009
386th Expeditionary Contracting Squadron

SOUTHWEST ASIA -- Senior Airman David Moreno

Job: Contracting Officer

Home unit/base: 21st Contracting Squadron, Peterson Air Force Base, Colo.

How do you support the mission here? "As a Contracting Officer, my job is to procure supplies and services for the 386th Air Expeditionary Wing staff and the 386th Expeditionary Medical Group in order to meet their mission requirements."

How many times have you deployed and what makes this one unique? "This is my first deployment. What makes this deployment unique is that it has tested my knowledge as a Contracting Officer and given me experience that I can use in my next deployment and at home station."

How does your job differ in a deployed environment vs. home base? "I have more responsibility here than at home station. For instance, as a Contracting Officer I have a purchasing warrant to obligate the United States government up to $1 million dollars. At home station I am a Contracting administrator in which my supervisor is the signatory authority for all of my projects. Here you actually see firsthand the impact of your efforts, and it is gratifying to see how your contributions play a critical role in accomplishing the mission. My workload keeps me in the office seven days a week, and the ops tempo never lets up. It's like preparing for end of fiscal year everyday here, which is good in my mind because there's never a dull moment."