Director, Theater Contracting Center
FOR EXCEPTIONALLY MERITORIOUS SERVICE WHILE SERVING AS THE DIRECTOR OF THE THEATER CONTRACTING CENTER FROM 12 MARCH 2023 THROUGH 13 AUGUST 2025. LIEUTENANT COLONEL LAFORGIA'S STRATEGIC MINDSET, TRANSFORMATIONAL LEADERSHIP, AND TRUE CARE FOR PEOPLE ENABLED SUCCESSFUL OPERATIONAL OUTCOMES AND MISSION ACCOMPLISHMENT FOR USAREUR-AF AND THE 21ST THEATER SUSTAINMENT COMMAND (TSC). LIEUTENANT COLONEL LAFORGIA'S SELFLESS SERVICE, EXCEPTIONAL PERFORMANCE, AND DEDICATION REFLECT GREAT CREDIT UPON HIMSELF, THE 409TH CONTRACTING SUPPORT BRIGADE, THE ARMY CONTRACTING COMMAND AND THE UNITED STATES ARMY.
Lead Contracting Officer Technical Representative
Master Sergeant David C Portish assigned to Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 38th Combat Aviation Brigade, distinguished himself by outstanding achievement as a Lead Contracting Officer Technical Representative, responsible for the 332d Air Expeditionary Wing, Joint Base Balad, Iraq. During this period, while under constant threat of enemy rocket and mortar attacks, Sergeant Portish managed four of eight dining facilities while conforming to the strict food sanitation guidelines set forth by the United States Department of Agriculture. He reduced health and safety risks by 37 percent through meticulous inspection of subsistence and implementation of detailed logs of 680 ration deliveries to ensure food is free from tampering and safe for consumption. In addition, Sergeant Portish trained three hundred Soldiers, Airmen, and foreign nationals on how to combat the spread of bacteria. His vigilance and quick response was critical when he identified potential sanitation hazards by alerting leadership and instituting a corrective plan throughout the dining facilities. Finally, his endeavors were critical to the food service program earning the award of the Air Combat Command's Commander-in-Chief's Installation Excellence award. The distinctive accomplishments of Master Sergeant Portish reflect credit upon himself and the United States Army.
Contracting NCO
Served as the Contracting Noncommissioned Officer for Alpha Division, Regional Contracting Office Vicenza, 414th Contracting Support Brigade; provided comprehensive contract support and Contract Administration Services to over 20K personnel across SETAF-AF, AFRICOM, 173rd IBCT (Airborne), USAG-Italy, and the 405th AFSB, supporting operations in a theater spanning more than 53 countries. As a subject matter expert on procurement capabilities, advised senior leaders, delivering timely and accurate assessments of commercial supply and service availability. Executed the full spectrum of contracting operations including solicitation, negotiation, contract award, and post-award administration with meticulous adherence to the Federal Acquisition Regulation, directly contributing to operational effectiveness and mission readiness.
Contracting Specialist
Exceptionally meritorious service as Headquarters United States Army Japan G4 Contracting Specialist during the period of 13 August to 20 December 2024. As the primary representative for USARJ/G4 acquisitions, Senior Airman Daniel Strouse demonstrated outstanding expertise, successfully supporting the largest trilateral Yama Sakura 87 exercise in history. He effectively guided the Army in leveraging the US Navy's World-wide Exercise Multiple Award Contract, ensuring seamless execution from planning to completion fostering strong partnerships with joint and international partners. Senior Airman Strouse's distinctive accomplishments, marked by his exceptional professionalism and dedication, reflect great credit upon himself, the acquisition community, and the United States Air Force.
Contracting Officer Representative (COR)
SGT McNeal was the COR representative for the 86th MCT. Her efforts ensured all contracting personnel adhered to their respective contracting obligations and safety measures, ensuring efficiency and appropriate use of time and allocated funding for the course of eight months.
Program Manager
Served as the day-to-day Program Manager for three contractor support contracts valued at $51M, effectively managing contract performance and ensuring compliance with contractual requirements for 40 personnel, while maintaining strong relationships with contractors.
Contracting Officer's Representative
FOR OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT IN DISPLAYING THE HIGHEST IDEALS OF INTER-SERVICE CAMARADERIE AND JOINTNESS. SERGEANT MAYO PROVIDED TWO REFERRALS TO THE 1944TH CONTINGENCY CONTRACTING TEAM THAT RESULTED IN THE UNIT'S MANNING EXCEEDING 100% IN THIS CRITICAL, HIGH DEMAND AND DEPLOYABLE MOS. SERGEANT MAYO'S OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE, PERSONAL INITIATIVE, AND DEVOTION TO DUTY REFLECT CREDIT UPON HIMSELF, THE MASSACHUSETTS NATIONAL GUARD AND THE UNITED STATES ARMY.
Contracting Officer's Representative
MSG Wallace demonstrated outstanding professional skill, knowledge, and interservice leadership while serving as the Contracting Officer's Representative for U.S. Forces Afghanistan (USFOR-A) Joint Engineering Directorate (JENG). MSG Wallace was solely responsible for guiding the Biogas Digester project to fruition. In addition, he served as the acting First Sergeant, Training Non-Commissioned Officer, Voting Registration Officer and CFC campaign manager for the Joint Engineering Directorate. MSG Wallace's actions bring great credit upon himself, the USFOR-A and the United States Army.
Contracting Officer
For outstanding achievement as a contingency CONTRACTING OFFICER. Sergeant Mason's outstanding professional skill, knowledge and leadership enabled the purchase and installation of over 100,000 dollars in targets critical to supporting the ground liaison officer supporting the operational support and readiness of the A-10C deployed in support of OPERATION ATLANTIC RESOLVE. Sergeant Mason's actions are a credit to himself, the 354th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron and the United States Army.
Deputy Director of Contracts
Captain Rheinhart managed 77 personnel who provided contract management support to over 800 suppliers in the four state New England area encompassing 48,000 square miles. Captain Rheinhart's aggressive and practical leadership style coupled with a constant desire to maximize effectiveness led him to identify multiple performance deficiencies and take immediate steps to improve productivity. He developed and implemented several contract metrics that produced a 50 percent reduction in contract closeout delinquencies. Captain Rheinhart standardized the distribution of the agency's contract workload by developing a centralized Contract tracking tool that provided real-time access to contract data. He revised the Contract Receipt and Review process, significantly reducing process time and ensuring office-wide compliance with policy. Captain Rheinhart also established weekly Contract Workload Review meetings which propagated best practices across the agency, improved daily workforce efficiency and accountability and increased overall unit performance. Additionally, he played a major role in the annual Stand-Down Days with the Defense Contract Audit Agency by reviewing over 1,000 Incurred Costs records and multiple databases. His unmatched leadership in the collection and submission of more than 600 contract files was critical in preparing for the Management Readiness Team (MRT). The exceptional efforts of Captain Rheinhart bring great credit upon himself, DCMA Boston, and the United States Army.
Contracting Officers Representative and Pay Agent
SSG Wilder served as an aide for the Acquisition Corps within Regional Support Command-South West and as a Contracting Officers Representative and Pay Agent for the Helmand Police Training Center, Lashkar Gah, Afghanistan. SSG Wilder was responsible for the accountability of all facets of five service contracts valued at over $1,000,000. He augmented the critical logistical support capabilities and services for the morale and welfare of 300 Afghanistan National Police trainees while developing and enforcing standard operating procedures demanded by the contract. He was also an indispensable advisor to the Regional Support Command-South West Commander and Contract Officers at Kabul Regional Contracting Center, Afghanistan. SSG Wilder's dedication and devotion to duty is in keeping with the finest traditions of the Army and reflects great credit upon himself, the Regional Support Command-Southwest and the United States Army.
