Christopher Castro Email & Phone Number

Hyrum, Ut, Us

Hyrum, Ut, Us

Senior Enlisted Leader, 90th Contracting Squadron, F.E. Warren AFB, WY (40 hrs/wk) (GS-13 Equivalent) 2023-Present Senior Enlisted advisor to Squadron Commander. Provides continuity in management and advisory services in support of the commercial contracting function and obligations for the Wing. Acts of behalf of the Commander in nonmilitary matters with responsibility for the efficient management and technical direction of the organization’s 35+ contracting professionals guiding $95M acquisition portfolio. Related Competencies: Program Administration, Customer Service, Problem Solving, Conflict Resolution, Subordinate Professional Development, Supervision, Training, Written Communication. • Formed corporate plan to attract new talent/personnel improving company manning levels during massive transitionary period.o Created Onboarding & Training Tool for newly gained acquisition professionals. Rectified 3-year Squadron Formal Training Plan deficiency.o Established Squadron operating procedures enabling transparency of unit’s decision-making process. Transformed organizational culture fostering climate of trust/cohesion. • Provided direction and guidance through subordinate team leaders to professional, technical, and support personnel engaged in managing, directing, and coordinating all aspects of the F.E Warren AFB mission.• Created employee development program, inspired professional and personal growth among 12 active-duty military personnel.o Implemented 12-month training curriculum fostering advancement opportunities among assigned teammates. Achieved Squadron’s highest Enlisted promotion rate to date.• Executed SAF/AQC mandatory Contingency Contracting Officer training program; planned 50+ hours of training over 4-month curriculum. • Briefed Wing’s Senior Leaders during Financial Working Group meetings on acquisition statuses in preparation for End of Fiscal Year.

Manager, Functional and Future Operations Planner, Joint Base Hickam, HI (40 hrs/wk) (GS-14 Equivalent) 2020-2023 Injected Operational Contract Support practices into real-world scenarios while developing commercial support capabilities. Managed 198 Contingency Contracting personnel supporting 30 annual Indo-Pacific Command operations across 36 countries. Managed MAJCOM’s Government Purchase Card Program guiding 3.4K personnel. Oversaw 95K annual transactions valued at $130M.Related Competencies: Joint Exercise Planning, Team Building, Analytical Thinking, Problem Solving, Briefing Head Quarter Senior Leaders, Oral/Written Communication.• Earned Unlimited Warrant.• Filled Directorate personnel vacancies above rank.o Functional Area Manager (E-8) for 10-monthso Flight Chief (O-4) for 4-months• Transformed Senior Leader strategic messaging into actionable objectives for supported units, codifying standard procedures.• Synchronized joint logistics across Department of Defense service components in support of 100K annual exercise participants.o Led Operational Contract Support planning for 30 joint operations, creating partnerships with various DoD Agencies and mission partners such as Australia and Japan.• Advised 14 Senior Leaders on emergency response operations. Reviews Operational Plan in support of the National Defense Strategy.• Lead Contracting planner for INDOPACOM’s Bomber Task Force bed down. Prepared and forward deployed 8 personnel in support of 6 1st-of-its-kind operational Bomber missions, providing strategic messaging to adversaries.• Coordinated with DSCA and DLA to provide aerospace ground equipment for 1st-ever F-35 deployment to India.• Led program reviews of 1.8K accounts, identified and then rectified 23 major discrepancies, recouping $1M Wing surplus.• Recognized as Department of the Air Force’s Contracting, Senior Non-Commissioned Officer of the Year.

Procurement Specialist, Sustainment Branch, Air Force Life Cycle Management Center Hill AFB, UT (40 hrs/wk) (GS-13 Equivalent) 2019-2020 Lead procurement specialist for F-22 Maintenance Information System Program Executive Office, working on the F-22 Raptor contracting team for the Performance-Based Logistics (PBL) contract (FASTeR II). I worked primarily with the Product Support Integrator (PSI) Lockheed Martin by ensuring the sustainment cost was both fair and reasonable. Executed $10M warrant authority, using FAR Part 16.5 procedures.Related Competencies: Contract Management, Contract Administration, Federal Acquisition Regulations, Procurement, Negotiation, Contract Award, Price / Cost Analysis, Change Order Management, Contractor Performance Monitoring, Quality Assurance, Contract Termination, Pre-Award / Post Award Functions, Cost Accounting Standards Requisition Package Review, Compliance Oversight, Solicitation.• Earned $10M warrant.• Authored policy revisions reducing acquisition lead times by 57%, enabling execution of $45M in additional fiscal year funds.• Recapitalized $15M into F-22 sustainment program from negotiated savings while deciphering 400 separate cost elements.• Innovated 1st-use CPFF-LOE contract type for Directorate. Awarded $62M operating software re-architecture 75% faster than AF standard.o Overcame challenges to contract award due to negotiation issues regarding the following: data rights, software license agreement, security concerns, and CDRL development.• Led Integrated Procurement Teams consisting of civilians 1102 personnel and Air Force officers. IPT members also included Financial Management, Configuration Management, DCAA/DCMA, Program Management, and Cost/Price Analysts.• Developed Cost and Price analysis techniques through government negotiation development objectives, proposal modeling with ProPricer, Price Negotiation Memorandum development with Program Managers.

Senior Enlisted advisor to Center Director. Trained and mentored 99 acquisition professional guiding $366M acquisition portfolio.• Earned $5M warrant.• Injected 360-degree feedback. Captured 14% Organizational Climate Survey improvement. Beat USAF standard by 8%.• Overhauled Directorate’s acquisition process. Reduced procurement lead times 30%, achieved 33% annual obligation increase. • Established weekly training and mentorship workshops, balancing personnel development and resource management with aggressive contracting workload; actions instrumental to Directorate winning 10 annual awards including 2016 Air Force Materiel Command’s Outstanding Operational Contracting Award.• Managed Wing’s Ground Maintenance Contract.o Developed reacquisition Statement of Work in conjunction with AFIMSC standards.o Led source-selection through Business Clearance.o Exercised FAR Part 12 & 49 procedures for contractor reperformance and termination.• Earned Civilian Personnel Management Certification.o Educated self on intricacies of civilian evaluation systems: DPMAP and ACQDEMO.• Utilized DAF’s strategic contract vehicles for roofing, furniture, and IT services/equipment.• Sole A&E Contracting Officer for Wing.o Led A&E FAR Part 15 reacquisition source-selection up to Business Clearance.o Emphasized use of DAF’s strategic A&E contract vehicle, directing orders using FAR Part 16.505 procedures • While deployed to UAE, led Contracting on International Airport expansion, teaming with engineers and industry partners.o Led Construction Flight, training 4-personnel on FAR Part 16.505 and Part 36 procedures.o Led Wing’s SABER FAR Part 15 reacquisition through Business Clearance with AFCENT/A7K.o Identified potential fraud/waste/abuse with Contractor Request for Equitable adjustments based on multiple, frivolous unforeseen site condition demands.• Recognized as Air Force Sustainment Centers Contracting, Senior Non-Commissioned Officer of the Year x2.

Led 9-member Civil Engineering Services Team overseeing $68M acquisition portfolio, while executing $3M Contracting Officer Warrant. • Earned SAT warrant within 12-months of being in career field. Six-months later, earned $3M warrant authority. • Lead administrator on $420M Presidential Airlift contract. Key to Wing’s Commander in Chief’s Annual Award for Excellence. o Coordinated negotiations between Tinker AFB’s System Program Office, DynCorp and Boeing on technical data licensing agreement, preventing grounding of 19 Presidential Airlift Group aircraft.o Oversaw 23 Contracting Officer Representatives performing monthly inspections for two Wings. Navigated delicate annual Contractor Performance Assessment Reports with DynCorp. • Authored rapid acquisition Quality Control Plan. Inspected 1,500 accounts/125 corrections, enabled $15M in annual obligations.• Used Non-Appropriated Fund procedures, administering and then executing reacquisition of Wing’s restaurant agreements.• Used FAR Part 8.4 for Federal Supply Schedule acquisitions and other Required Sources of Supplies and Services.• While deployed to Kuwait, led Civilian Engineering Services Flight.o Sole Contracting Officer in support of Al-Mubarak Air Base, using FAR Part 13, 16, and 18 procedures for 300% influx of personnel in support of fight against ISIS.• Recognized as Air Force District of Washington’s Contracting, Non-Commissioned Officer of the Year x2.