Mission Monday: The 763rd Enterprise Sourcing Squadron

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JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-LACKLAND, Texas – It’s Mission Monday! Karlye Keil is a contract specialist (CS) with the Air Force Installation Contracting Center’s 763rd Enterprise Sourcing Squadron at Scott Air Force Base, Illinois.

Her work helps with the execution of contracts by analyzing proposals, negotiating and administering contracts, as well as assisting in training junior buyers. Here’s a little more about Keil and how her work contributes to the lethality and readiness of the Department of the Air Force (DAF):

What do you love about your job? 
Every contract action that is taken must be executed strategically in order to provide the best value. I love the challenge and every day is different. 

When it comes to your job, what keeps you motivated?  
At the 763d ESS we have a variety of contracts with varying degrees of complexity. None of the contracts that I am currently working are the same, which allows me to learn every day. The need to think critically and develop the most appropriate strategy for each requirement while staying within timelines keeps me motivated. 

Why are you and your team important to the Air Force enterprise and your customers?  
Our team is important to the Air Force enterprise because we are paving the way for enterprise requirements as one of the first ESS offices. We strive to reduce costs, improve mission capability and maximize the effectiveness of every taxpayer dollar spent on defense. Our contract actions are force multipliers providing warfighters with capabilities that the DAF doesn’t have organically. 

Describe a project or event you and your team worked on recently that gave you a great sense of accomplishment: 
I’m the CS for the Air Force enterprise-wide continental U.S. Enterprise Official Mail Center and Postal Service Center Support Services requirement, which will include mail services for 35+ bases over a 10-year period. In June, we presented the acquisition strategy plan to the service designated official Samuel Grable. Our team put forth extensive effort and research for the plan given as it’s the first of its kind.  Our thorough effort was rewarded with no comments and a signature approval to proceed with our plan, validating our efforts. 

AFIMSC has three strategic priorities -- increase lethality and readiness, strengthen Airmen, Guardians and families, and pursue organizational excellence. Tell us how your work fits those priorities. 
I constantly consider the necessity of the latest technology to support the world’s greatest Air Force. As an enterprise sourcing squadron, our goal is to streamline processes while ensuring taxpayer dollars are being spent in the most advantageous way. I’m currently one of two CSs supporting Air Mobility Command’s Mobility Guardian Exercise 2022. 

AMC published an article titled “Mobility Guardian 2021: AMC debuts first large-scale virtual command center” which discussed the goals of Mobility Guardian. 
“Mobility Guardian is about developing Airmen and advancing warfighting capabilities by pushing boundaries and experimenting with new concepts to ensure mobility forces are ready to project the joint force and ensure strategic deterrence,” said Brig. Gen. Charles Bolton, headquarters AMC deputy director of operations, strategic deterrence and nuclear integration. “AMC leverages opportunities like Mobility Guardian to ensure our Total Force is ready to compete with, deter or defeat any adversary, not just in the current environment, but also in the future fight.” 

My support to Mobility Guardian exercises directly supports the priority of lethality and readiness to ensure the Air Force is prepared.

Is there anything else you’d like to add which might help people understand the importance of what you do for the Air Force? 
I’m important to the Air Force because I continue to challenge and question policies and procedures in place to ensure best practices are employed and every dollar spent is providing the best capability to the warfighter. Contracting is never one size fits all and understanding the rules, regulations, services and products in our ever-changing environment is key to support the Air Force enterprise. The Air Force enterprise relies on contracts we issue … without contract support, mission failures and work stoppages would occur.