[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 186 (Friday, October 22, 2021)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1131]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     IN RECOGNITION OF TINA BALLARD

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. JENNIFER WEXTON

                              of virginia

                    in the house of representatives

                        Friday, October 22, 2021

  Ms. WEXTON. Madam Speaker, I rise to congratulate Ms. Tina Ballard on 
her retirement and thank her for 30 years of dedicated federal service. 
Most recently, she served as the Executive Director of the Commission, 
an independent federal agency responsible for directing and managing 
the AbilityOne  Program through which federal activities purchase 
products and services from nonprofit agencies associated with National 
Industries for the Blind (NIB) and SourceAmerica . AbilityOne Program 
procurements provide high quality products and services needed for the 
operation of the Federal Government while providing employment and 
training opportunities for tens of thousands of people who are blind or 
have other significant disabilities.
  She served as the Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Army (Policy and 
Procurement) as the Army's principal acquisition and procurement policy 
authority for all Army acquisition programs, responsible for the 
management and execution of the Army's contracting function worldwide
  As Functional Chiefs Representative for the Army Contracting and 
Acquisition Career Program, Ms. Ballard was responsible for the 
recruitment, training, education, and professional development of the 
contracting professionals who are part of the Army's acquisition 
workforce and industrial base policy.
  As Director of Combat Support Operations and the Deputy Executive 
Director of Contract Management Operations in the Defense Contract 
Management Agency, she managed agency policy in multiple theatres of 
military operations.
  Ballard joined the Federal service as a Stay-in-School and continued 
her service as a college Cooperative (Co-op) Education student. Upon 
graduation, she began as Contract Specialist and Procuring Contracting 
Officer with the Aeronautical Systems Division, Wright-Patterson Air 
Force Base She later transferred to Air Force Plant Representative 
Office, Boeing Military Airplanes, Wichita, Kansas where she was the 
Principal Administrative Contracting Officer and the Director of 
Contract Operations.
  In 1994, Tina Ballard became the Director of Pacific/Caribbean 
Contract Operations in DCMA International, where she served as a 
liaison to the Air force Materiel Command for four years with 
responsibility for more than 200 personnel located in six countries. In 
January 1999, she accepted an assignment in the Office of the Secretary 
of Defense where she led several projects for the Deputy Secretary of 
Defense.
  Ballard received her B.A. in English (1980), a M.S. in Management 
(1989), and a M.S. in National Resource Strategy (2001). She has 
completed the Industrial College of the Armed Forces Senior Acquisition 
Course and Leadership for a Democratic Society at the Federal Executive 
Institute. Ballard has received the Office of the Secretary of Defense 
Award for Excellence, two DLA Meritorious Civilian Service Awards, and 
Department of the Army Decoration for Exceptional Civilian Service 
(2008), Department of the Army Outstanding Civilian Service Medal 
(2003) and named the Federal Executive Association Unsung Heroine.
  Madam Speaker, I ask that you and our colleagues join me in 
recognizing the outstanding contributions Ms. Tina Ballard has made 
over the course of her career to the military, the commonwealth, and 
the country. On behalf of a grateful Nation, we wish her continued 
success in her future endeavors.

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