Getting down to the nuts and bolts: Five CMOs, three career fields, two Iraq deployments later

Photo By Jo Adail Stephenson | Joyce Skinner works as a contract administrator with Defense Contract Management Agency Indianapolis. During her 23 years with DCMA, she also has worked as a procurement technician and an industrial specialist, chosen to work in five different contract management offices and deployed twice to Iraq.  

INDIANAPOLIS, IN, UNITED STATES

06.18.2012

Story by Jo Adail Stephenson 

Defense Contract Management Agency

INDIANAPOLIS - Joyce Skinner likes working with nuts and bolts even though she doesn’t actually physically touch or handle these basic components.

“I like to get into the ‘nuts and bolts,’ figure out what the problem is and fix it. My favorite thing is to fix something so everything will flow,” said Skinner, a contract administrator with Defense Contract Management Agency Indianapolis.

She has put this ability to use in various capacities in her 23 years with DCMA as a procurement technician for 11 years, an industrial specialist for 11 years and as a contract administrator for a year.

Her job titles are not the only thing that’s changed over the years. She chose to work in five different contract management offices and to deploy twice to Iraq.

Skinner began her career in Ohio with DCMA Dayton. She transferred to agency offices in St. Petersburg, Fla., then Raytheon Tucson in Arizona and later Rolls Royce in Indiana before returning to DCMA Dayton’s Indianapolis office.

She was an industrial specialist stateside but deployed as a quality assurance representative working on Theater Wide Contract Administration during her two Iraq deployments from February to August 2008 and from March to September 2009.

“What I liked most about the deployments was getting to know people from other countries and living and working among our warfighters,” Skinner said. “I also enjoyed working with different types of contracts than we typically have here in the states. It was both challenging and rewarding work.”

In addition to her contract administrator duties, she currently serves as an American Federation of Government Employees steward. "I'm really glad we were able to hire Joyce into the CMO,” Army Lt. Col. Todd Spencer, DCMA Indianapolis commander, said. “In addition to being a solid CA and filling that need in our business mission, she provides me with a union presence in my headquarters office. She brings a great approach to both of these duties, and I consider her a 'double-benefit' employee to my command."

Different jobs and locations have given Skinner a different perspective which she applies to her current work on firm, fixed-price contracts with mostly small businesses.

“I try to help them, work with them, get them paid,” she said. “It’s very important for them to get paid timely.”

Besides working to ensure the contractors get paid and the products are delivered, Skinner said, “I like being able to close out the contracts.”

Even though Skinner has changed jobs and locations, one thing remains constant. “My whole government career has been with DCMA,” she said. “I’ve come full circle. It’s new and old all at the same time.”

• Date Taken: 06.18.2012
• Date Posted: 07.02.2012 10:23
• Story ID: 90983
• Location: INDIANAPOLIS, IN, US