Contracting Directorate welcomes director

Published Feb. 11, 2011
By Brandice J. O'Brien
Tinker Public Affairs

TINKER AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. -- Imagine a family practice doctor leading the Oklahoma City Air Logistics Center Contracting Directorate. While it may seem like a foreign concept, metaphorically, that's how the new director sees himself.

Robert Boyles has a wide breadth of experience. The retired colonel knows the ins and outs of military and civilian life. Unlike a specialist who has one area of expertise, Mr. Boyles knows about contracting, the culture of the three air logistics centers and Department of Defense operations. He said he has three focuses for the directorate and will use his experience and belief in the Air Force core values to achieve his goal.

"I see myself as a family practice doctor who is able to broker solutions and remedies that I've garnered from all my travels. There is strength in mobility," Mr. Boyles said. "I believe in applying the Air Force core values to the contracting process and the entire acquisition process."

Prior to arriving at Tinker in December, Mr. Boyles served as the director of Utah Operations for Sumaria Systems.

Before retiring from the Air Force in 2008, Mr. Boyles worked in Air Force and DOD acquisition, systems, logistics and contract administration. He has also held positions at Air Force Materiel Command Headquarters and commanded four times, including his last active-duty assignment as 66th Missions Support Group commander at Hanscom Air Force Base, Mass.

Though Mr. Boyles is new to the OC-ALC/PK position, he is no stranger to Oklahoma or Tinker. From July 1991 to 1994, Mr. Boyles was a member of the Logistics Career Broadening Program here.

Through the years, Mr. Boyles said the contracting career field and its practices changed significantly, but there is still room for improvement, which he hopes to reflect on his OC-ALC/PK team.

In the early 1980s, when he began his career, Mr. Boyles said contracting officials were often risk-averse; not always exploring creative options to solutions. In the late 80s and 1990s, there was a push for openness. Officials worked within regulations but made things happen.

"Now, we're back to a risk-adverse contracting environment, largely because of an inexperienced workforce; Air Force-wide, not just at Tinker," Mr. Boyles said. "It's a cyclical thing and the pendulum is far to the conservative side. It is my opportunity to help create an environment of confidence so our outstanding team can help develop effective business deals to support the center's mission."

To do that, Mr. Boyles said he will focus on three areas -- training, teamwork and professionalism. Training will be accomplished through a multi-tier, multi-faceted program directed toward interns, newcomers, intermediates, seniors and warrants -- personnel who can sign for the government.

"I want to teach my work force to reach out, to be helpful, be accountable, hold their team members accountable and focus on the mission," he said. "I believe you can't get anything done unless you work in a true teaming environment."

Mr. Boyles said he also wants to invigorate the work force and help his personnel understand contracting is not just a job, but a profession.

"We have all the elements of a profession. We have statute that drives what we do, a common set of ethics, commonality of purpose and an educational requirement behind what we do," Mr. Boyles said. "We have a professional association and I'd like folks to become a part of it, as evidence of the fact that they're professionals not just doing an 8-to-5 job."