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Rock Solid Warrior: Staff Sgt. Mitchell Johnson

  • Published
  • By Public Affairs
  • 386th Air Expeditionary Wing
SOUTHWEST ASIA --  This week's Rock Solid Warrior is Staff Sgt. Mitchell Johnson, a contracting officer with the 386th Expeditionary Contracting Squadron. The Vancouver, Washington, native is deployed from the 355th Contracting Squadron at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Arizona.

Q: What is your family’s military heritage (anyone else in your family who was/is in the military?):
A: I have grandparents who served in the military who I unfortunately do not know much about. However, my uncle whom I’m named after is a Marine.

Q: What is your mission here (in general terms)?
A: My primary duty is to serve as the sole contracting officer for the 387th Air Expeditionary Group. I solicit, procure and coordinate performance for all construction and services for the group, as well as purchase all supplies which are not on hand.

Q: What are some of the best parts of your mission?
A: The Federal Acquisition Regulation and the instructions contracting officers must follow by law can sometimes cause roadblocks to the mission. My favorite part of contracting is finding ways to legally complete the mission in untraditional manners.

Q: What are some of the challenges you face while conducting your mission, and how do you overcome them?
A: Many people do not understand the contracting mission, and some see us as glorified shoppers. Although we do buy things, educating our customers as to the ways we can and cannot purchase something can be difficult. We must make the determination that purchasing one product over another or from one vendor to another is best for the tax payer and in accordance with our regulations.

Q: How does your job differ in a deployed environment vs. home base?
A: While deployed there is a lot more responsibility put on a contracting officer's shoulders. The direct mission impact can cause people to want to direct a contracting officer to purchase something in a certain way; however our signature is what also can put us in jail. Where those untrained to our procedures can’t be held as liable, we have been trained and given authority directly from Congress to spend taxpayer dollars. If we do so unethically or irresponsibility, we will pay the price for it.

Q: How many times have you deployed?
A: This my second deployment. I was at The Rock from Oct 2011 to May 2012 also.

Q: What makes this deployment unique?
A: Coming back to the same location, yet with different responsibilities, has made this deployment interesting so far. I’m enjoying the new position, and I’m surprised at how little has changed over the past few years.

Q: Why did you join the Air Force?
A: My original motivation in joining the Air Force was to get my education and have new experiences in many different places. I will hit my seven year mark in April and have only been stationed at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base and deployed to the 386th ECONS, but I will be earning my bachelor’s degree during this deployment.