My DCMA: Phyllis Banks, procurement tech turned contract administrator

Courtesy Photo | Phyllis Banks, a contract administrator out of DCMA Roseville, is responsible for preparing, negotiating, and reviewing contracts, including sales, requisitions, and purchases. She joined the agency as a procurement technician, which allowed her to experience professional growth at her own pace.  

ROSEVILLE, CALIFORNIA, UNITED STATES

03.18.2025

Story by Elizabeth Szoke 

Defense Contract Management Agency

ROSEVILLE, Calif. – My DCMA showcases the Defense Contract Management Agency’s experienced and dedicated workforce and highlights what being a part of the national defense team means to them. Today, Phyllis Banks shares her story of how she began working for our nation’s warfighters.

My name is Phyllis Banks and this is "My DCMA."

I am a contract administrator assigned to DCMA Roseville. I’m responsible for preparing, negotiating, and reviewing contracts, including sales, requisitions and purchases. I ensure contracts are compliant with legal requirements, analyze potential risks and I maintain organized records.

Contract administrators are important to our nation’s mission of achieving peace through strength because we ensure defense contractors meet the terms of their contracts. This guarantees our military receives the necessary goods and services at cost and on time, enhancing warfighter lethality through our acquisition insight and support.

I’m proud to be a part of a team of trusted professionals delivering value to our warfighters throughout the acquisition cycle, and that we, as contract administrators, play an integral part of the procurement process. We assist with performing special studies, which allows us to compile facts through review and analyze background data so we can develop a written position and recommend corrective action.

Although I’ve been a contract administrator for the past year, I will always remember and have an appreciation for how I got started. I began my federal career as a DCMA procurement technician in 2018, which I feel gave me the tools and experience to fulfill my current duties.

While the 1106 procurement technician, or PT, is an entry level position that offers a unique opportunity for people to join the federal workforce, it is a challenging field. PTs are required to have previous knowledge of contract management and administration. If people are interested in maintaining a long-term career with DCMA, I feel the 1106 field provides the requisite knowledge and skills needed to succeed.

I initially received training from subject matter experts within my office and other departments we worked closely with. I was also the only PT at the time with access to the Department of Defense’s contract management system, which allowed me to support the team with contract review and receipt, as well as system inputs. It enabled me to take initiative to conduct research and issue forms that identified discrepancies, which helped to reopen and support contracts to address premature closeouts, unprocessed modifications, missing shipment information in the database and other contractual issues.

As a PT, I promoted synergy through teamwork and encouraged team interaction and voluntary assistance. I like to correlate PTs to the quarterback position in football: they provide strategy, purpose and direction to the team. PTs offer critical thinking, structure and resolution to the contracting business teams, and their contributions facilitate contract administration and acquisition support to the warfighters in a timely manner. Delays, which are costly and can cause breakdowns in the overall mission, can happen at all levels. PTs can resolve issues at the lowest levels, allowing streamlined and efficient contract execution support for other job functions.

For team members ready to expand their experience or seek a future management-level position, the 1106 field is a great launching point. I would advise them to speak with subject matter experts in other areas in the agency, such as industrial specialists, quality assurance professionals, contract administrators, etc. They should research the different classifications to see what education and experience they need and determine if it aligns with their career goals. I would also recommend current employees apply for leadership programs, other assisgnments and available training opportunities.

DCMA is the finest federal agency in the country, and I’m thankful for the many opportunities the agency provided to help me excel both professionally and personally. The agency's approachable management structure gives everyone an opportunity to grow professionally by providing different options for almost anyone at any stage of their career. For me, I recently earned my Master of Business Administration degree, and I hope to apply for an administrative contracting officer position. In that role, I would gain specific legal authorities when overseeing contracts, allowing me to contribute more to the agency and to my team.

My current team is the absolute best because I have never worked with such a mix of brilliant, talented and hard-working individuals. I feel that our cohesion and commitment offers a model for all teams to follow to create an efficient workplace environment. All of this gives me a sense of pride when I think of how my work, and the work of my team, supports warfighters.

• Date Taken: 03.18.2025
• Date Posted: 03.21.2025 16:00
• Story ID: 493476
• Location: ROSEVILLE, CALIFORNIA, US
• Hometown: ROSEVILLE, CALIFORNIA, US