ManTech’s Debbie Thurman on what it takes to be an outstanding contracts executive

What does it take to be an outstanding contracts executive? Debbie Thurman, senior corporate vice president of contracts, pricing and procurement, knows all about it. For almost 25 years she served in the Air Force, where she began a contracting career in 1986. From there, she moved on to the NRO, and later to ManTech. In the following Q&A Thurman talks about the strengths that ManTech brings to the table in navigating an uncertain political and economic landscape, and how companies can hold on to top talent in the years ahead.

Tell us about your role at ManTech International Corporation.

Debbie Thurman: I’m the Senior Corporate Vice President of Contracts, Pricing and Procurement which also includes export control, small business, and government property — in addition to the normal contracts, pricing and procurement responsibilities typically found in a contracts organization.

How has the job changed in the last couple of years?

Debbie Thurman: Things have changed gradually in the government contract arena leading to more complexity in the process. There are many current legislative initiatives associated with acquisition policy that have or will potentially change the way we acquire, manage and report on government contracts. Contracting with the federal government has become more complex over the years, and at the same time the government’s workforce has declined in numbers as well as experience, causing issues for both government and industry. Also, this war is different than any the U.S. has been involved in before, and with contractors providing more support it takes a lot more time and effort to ensure we effectively execute and manage those contracts. Like some other companies, we have a lot of employees in the war zones and ensuring that our employees have what they need to do their job safely is our number one priority. At the same time, it’s critical that we do all that we can to adequately support the troops. Getting items to them that they need to do their job, quickly and timely while at the same time ensuring that we are fully compliant with government regulations is a must.

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