Around Tinker: OC-ALC Contracting Directorate deputy director retires

Published Dec. 14, 2007
By Brandice J. Armstrong
Tinker Public Affairs

TINKER AIR FORCE BASE -- John MacDonald is retiring, 15 years after he first arrived at Tinker. Mr. MacDonald came to Tinker in 1992 as a supervisory price analyst for the Oklahoma City Air Logistics Center. On Jan. 2, he will retire as the OC-ALC's Contracting Directorate deputy director.
   In his federal service career, which extended 30 years, Mr. MacDonald has completed nine assignments. Primarily Hanscom Air Force Base, Mass., and Tinker, Mr. MacDonald said he learned several lessons during his tenure. Among them, keeping an open mind and accepting new challenges are key. They are lessons he learned the hard way.
   "I passed up an opportunity to rotate through the contracting directorate early in my career," the deputy director said. "I chose not to rotate because the job I currently had was a great challenge. But, long term, I short-changed myself by missing out on experiencing all the different types of Air Force contracting."
   Another significant lesson Mr. MacDonald said he learned through his Air Force career is there are no generic "one size fits all" answers. Mr. MacDonald said he learned that in his current position while trying to balance the demands of supporting the warfighter while being a warden to the taxpayer's money.
   "There's never a 'one size fits all' solution when determining the right balance changes from action to action," Mr. MacDonald said.
   Tinker contracting professionals award more than 15,000 contracts each year, which total more than $5 billion. As deputy director, Mr. MacDonald assists the director with contracts for sustaining at least seven different aircraft, 51 jet engine models, Advanced and Air Launched Cruise missiles, and other flight instruments and accessories.
   Mr. MacDonald said he will stay in the Oklahoma City metro and may pursue part-time instructor opportunities to train new contracting professionals.