Contracting excellence nets award for YPG intern

Although Kimberly Ross feels she did not do anything special to win the FY2011 Outstanding Intern of the Year Award, her supervisor and higher headquarters believe otherwise.

Ross is a contract specialist for the Mission Installation Contracting Command (MICC) at Yuma Proving Ground, and her higher headquarters is the U.S. Army Contracting Command (ACC) in Huntsville, Ala.

Carol Lowman, ACC executive director, presented 30 individual and eight team awards at the third annual ACC Contracting Awards ceremony to members of MICC for their outstanding dedication and hard work. “These professionals exemplify the best of this command and are the types of individuals others can aspire to become,” said Lowman.

“I don't believe I did anything special, but my supervisor, Mike McDaniel, division chief, believed I did,” said Ross. McDaniel nominated her for her efforts in preparing and executing 43 contract awards worth a combined value of $19.3 million.

He also pointed out her cost saving initiative that helped save $96,000 in a data center technology upgrade was leveraged to support unfunded requirements by the customer. Her efforts proved significant in MICC-YPG executing 1,259 contract actions that totaled in $203 million in obligations for the 2011 fiscal year.

“Kimberly truly stands out among her peers as an excellent contracting professional. YPG and our war fighters are fortunate to have her support and dedication,” said Ann Sanchez, director of MICC.

“It's flattering that my supervisor would keep notes of all of my work and take the time to submit my name,” said Ross, who added that 200 nominations were submitted.

Ross, a graduate of the University of Arizona, earned a bachelor's degree in agriculture and began work at MICC-YPG as an intern in 2009. “As an intern, the program consists of on-the-job and classroom training as well,” said Ross.

“Kimberly is a dynamic team player that is dedicated to supporting mission and garrison activities to meet their critical mission requirements,” said McDaniel. “No other intern at mission and installation and contracting command has received this prestigious award.”

Although Ross has completed the internship program, she is not new to the contracting field. Her mother, Sandy, used to be director of contracting at YPG and now works at the Defense Procurement Acquisition Policy in the Pentagon.

“Although my degree is not in the contracting field, I have found a rewarding career that I truly enjoy and love doing. Seeing my mother work in this field for so long inspired me to stay with it and do the best I can,” she said. “Both my parents gave me a good background in work ethics, taught me to always do my best and certainly inspired me to give it all.”

Yolie Canales writes for The Outpost, the newspaper at Yuma Proving Ground.