BUCKLEY AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. -- Brig. Gen. Cameron Holt, Air Force Installation Contracting Agency commander; Heidi Bullock, AFICA executive director; and Chief Master Sgt. David Tuck, AFICA enlisted manager, visited Buckley Air Force Base Feb. 12 to meet with contracting Airmen, gain a better understanding of the base's capabilities and give insight on the future of AFICA.
AFICA is responsible for managing and executing above-wing-level operational acquisition solutions across the Air Force.
During the visit, Holt discussed the recent changes in contracting culture and encouraged Airmen not to feel deterred from going above and beyond to complete the Air Force mission.
"Get your hands deep and dirty and learn our business quickly because we need you," said Holt.
Even with the smallest Air Force in history, Holt said, the mission must move through challenges with innovation.
"It's a challenge we have to embrace, but we have to learn to own it and we have to get an attitude about it," said Holt. "We have to say 'Are we going to let that beat us?' Nope. We're going to learn this business and we're going to move on out. We are going to take our [challenges] and we're going to change the Air Force with it."
Holt reminded the high-ranking individuals they are developing the next generation of contractors in the Air Force, which is incredibly important and worth the time and effort.
To touch base with service members, Bullock spoke about lessons she learned during her career, to include promoting a work-life balance, looking for ways to improve things, that asking for a wingman is not a weakness but a strength, that success is relative and to think two ranks above your own.
She also reminded those present that to keep the momentum of the mission moving forward, we have to do preventative maintenance to take care of ourselves.
"There is a reason why we give you leave," said Bullock. "Take it, use it or save it. I have never heard anyone say on their deathbed they wished they worked a few more hours."
If personal preventative maintenance is skipped, it could set off a domino effect of reactions, such as stress, fatigue and a negative mood which drains on an individuals focus and physical and emotional resources, she said.
Bullock continued with life lessons learned of taking opportunities, even when they are hard to see.
Holt, Bullock and Tuck spent the majority of their visit talking with the Airmen and civilian contractors in an open forum, concentrating on ways to improve the impact contracting has on the Air Force mission.
"Do the best you can in your current job because that's how you build your reputation and that's how you build your credibility," said Bullock. "Whatever is needed at that moment, do it and have a positive attitude because that's what's going to pay dividends."