Changing commanders in DCMA Iraq

Courtesy Photo | Air Force Col. Renee Richardson, (left) former Defense Contract Management Agency Middle East commander, transfers the colors and the DCMA Iraq command to Army Lt. Col. Kim Thomas (right).  

BAGHDAD, IRAQ

10.04.2012

Courtesy Story

Defense Contract Management Agency

BAGHDAD, Iraq - The recent change of command ceremony here marked one of the final steps in the Defense Contract Management Agency Iraq’s transformation from post-Operation New Dawn support as a contract management office to a tertiary command reporting to DCMA Middle East.

Navy Rear Adm. Robert Gilbeau, DCMA International commander, presided over the ceremony, which was attended by representatives from the Department of State, Department of Defense, associate U.S. government agencies and support contractors. The ceremony was held at the U.S. Embassy Baghdad, Iraq.

“The U.S. mission in Iraq has seen significant change over the past several months,” Gilbeau remarked. “Operation New Dawn and U.S. Forces Iraq’s departure included tens of thousands of U.S. military and defense contractor demobilization and transition. Today, the presence of DCMA Iraq continues albeit transformed to meet the changing customer needs and requirements of the Chief of Mission, U.S. State Department - Embassy Baghdad, Iraq.”

The change of command signified the changing role of DCMA’s leadership from outgoing commander, Army Col. Matthew Riordan, to the incoming commander, Army Lt. Col. Kim Thomas.

“Since June 2011, my deployment has seen four distinct phases: supporting Operation New Dawn, closing OND operations, phasing-in Mission Iraq’s on-going support, and the government of Iraq beginning to govern their country,” Riordan said.

He continued by stating the current success was due to the more than 400 DCMA personnel who deployed and supported DCMA Iraq’s efforts during his command tenure.

Thomas echoed Riordan’s sentiments and spoke about DCMA’s essential contract administration and quality assurance roles in supporting the mission.

“DCMA Iraq will continue to provide expert quality assurance and contract administration enabling Mission Iraq partners to achieve contract objectives while serving as the foremost acquisition adviser to the Chief of Mission leadership and staff,” Thomas said. “DCMA Iraq will continue its exceptional performance by meeting the dynamic Chief of Mission requirements.”

These requirements include the phase-out of DOD contracts and phase-in of Department of State contracts over the next several months. This phase of DCMA’s mission will oversee the conclusion of the Logistics Civil Augmentation Program contract presence in Iraq. LOGCAP contracts provided basic living support services to U.S. military and civilian men and women for more than a decade during Operation Iraqi Freedom, Operation New Dawn and Mission Iraq.

DCMA Iraq’s future will also include facilitating foreign military sales contract administration services in the region.

• Date Taken: 10.04.2012
• Date Posted: 10.23.2012 14:05
• Story ID: 96630
• Location: BAGHDAD, IQ