美国海军设施工程系统司令部（NAVFAC）华盛顿分部在安德鲁斯联合基地举办了2026年度合同社区交流会，召集了全地区的合同专业人员，旨在加强协作、巩固标准并提高任务效能。
此次交流会为NAVFAC华盛顿分部的合同工作人员提供了一个统一的平台，重点在于磨炼技术技能、改进工作流程，并与支持司令部任务的人员重新建立联系。NAVFAC华盛顿分部合同官凯瑟琳·巴洛内克表示：“这次聚会提醒我们，每一个人在NAVFAC华盛顿分部为舰队提供服务方面都发挥着至关重要的作用。我们是一个更大使命的一部分，这取决于我们对卓越的集体承诺。”
今年的主题是“通过问责建立信任”，强调了合同专业中诚信和透明度的重要性。NAVFAC华盛顿分部指挥官丹尼尔·施密特上校指出：“在复杂的合同世界中，信任是我们最宝贵的货币。它能够实现开放式沟通，促进协作，并赋予我们共同克服挑战的力量。有了信任，我们在支持作战人员的共同任务中会变得更加敏捷、创新和高效。”
NAVFAC大西洋分部合同负责人艾琳·昆比强调，适应能力和沟通是应对变革的关键。昆比表示：“随着流程和系统的不断演进，持续学习和灵活性至关重要。沟通是建立信任的关键，协作和解决问题是每个人的责任。”
合同专业人员管理从授标前到授标后的整个采购流程，同时维持职业道德标准和法规合规性。这些职责直接有助于任务备战状态和资源的有效管理。
Naval Facilities Engineering Systems Command (NAVFAC) Washington hosted its 2026 Contracting Community Exchange at Joint Base Andrews, bringing together contracting professionals from across the region to strengthen collaboration, reinforce standards and enhance mission effectiveness.
The exchange served as a forum for NAVFAC Washington’s contracting workforce to operate as a unified community, focusing on sharpening technical skills, improving processes and reconnecting with the people who support the command’s mission.
"This gathering is a reminder that each of us plays a vital role in how NAVFAC Washington delivers for the fleet,” said Kathryn Balonek, NAVFAC Washington contracting officer. “We are part of a larger mission that depends on our collective commitment to excellence.”
This year’s theme, “Building Trust Through Accountability,” stressed the importance of integrity and transparency in the contracting profession.
“In the complex world of contracting, trust is our most valuable currency,” said Capt. Daniel Schmitt, NAVFAC Washington commanding officer. “It enables open communication, fosters collaboration, and empowers us to overcome challenges together. With trust, we become more agile, innovative, and efficient in our shared mission to support the warfighter.”
Erin Quimby, chief of contracting for NAVFAC Atlantic, emphasized adaptability and communication as essential to navigating change.
“Continuous learning and flexibility are critical as processes and systems evolve”, said Quimby. Communication is key in building trust, and it is everyone’s responsibility to collaborate and problem-solve.”
Contracting professionals manage the full acquisition process from pre-award to post-award actions while maintaining ethical standards and regulatory compliance. These responsibilities directly contribute to mission readiness and the effective stewardship of resources.
“Trust is earned through consistent action, sound judgment and the willingness to own our responsibilities,” said Balonek. “As contracting professionals, we are stewards to resources that directly impact readiness and mission success. Accountability ensures our documentation is defensible, our processes are compliant, and our decisions reflect the highest standards of acquisition professionals."
NAVFAC’s mission is to deliver and sustain lifecycle technical and acquisition solutions aligned with Fleet and Marine corps priorities, serving as the naval forces’ trusted facilities and expeditionary experts to enable warfighter lethality.
