Paul Seivert

Experience

• 

  Army National Guard

  Sept 2002 - Aug 2010

  The fire direction officer is responsible for all aspects of fire direction operations. The fire direction officer should be familiar with the duties of the platoon leader or battery executive officer. The fire direction officer can perform duties as platoon leader. The fire direction officer has specific responsibilities, which include:* Verify the AFATDS database.* Verify targets meet target selection standards and attack guidance.* Issuing a fire order.* Determine accurate and timely firing data.* Verify maintenance checks on the section vehicle, radios, computer, and generators in strict compliance with applicable technical manuals.* Verify that the tactical situation map is current.* Verify accuracy of records of missions fired.* Verify dissemination and understanding of data for prearranged fires.* Perform independent safety computations.* Maintain muzzle velocity variance information for all howitzers.* Control howitzer movement and positioning.* Issue movement orders based on commander, platoon leader, and advance party guidance. Show less The platoon leader is responsible for all aspects of platoon operations. The platoon leader will locate in a position to best lead the platoon, considering mission variables and the level of unit training. The platoon leader will rely heavily on the platoon sergeant to supervise the firing platoon and the gunnery sergeant to supervise the detailed platoon reconnaissance, selection, and occupation of a position (RSOP). * Served as Battery Rear Detachment Commander* Management and attention to detail led to less than 1% non-effective Soldier rate* Served as Range OIC allowing for the safe and successful firing of over 12,000 rounds Show less

  • Battery Fire Direction Officer

    Aug 2009 - Aug 2010

  • Platoon Leader

    May 2008 - Aug 2009

  • Cadet

    Aug 2006 - May 2008

  • Ammo Team Chief

    May 2005 - Aug 2006

  • Military Police

    Feb 2004 - May 2005

  • Driver

    Sept 2002 - Jan 2004
• 

  Army National Guard

  Apr 2011 - Oct 2011

  Brigade Aviation Officer

  Responsible for coordinating all pre-planned U.S. aviation support for a Polish Infantry Brigade in Afghanistan during hostilities. This position required detailed knowledge of current and upcoming operations, working with superior and subordinate elements as well as peer staff sections, and a knowledge and understanding of the operational environment and the capabilities of U.S. air frames supporting the Polish forces.* Gained international experience by living and working in Afghanistan, and previously living and working in Poland. Also worked closely with Polish forces on a daily basis. Show less

• 

  Army National Guard

  Feb 2012 - Mar 2020

  The Operations Officer is responsible for training, planning, and execution of battalion operations. The Operations Officer has specific responsibilities, including: advising the battalion commander; developing Field Artillery (FA) organization for combat and attack guidance; positioning of firing and target acquisition assets, command posts, forward support company operations, and battalion trains command post; preparing the FA battalion estimate; conducting the military decision making process; preparing the operation plan or operation order; directing the employment of organic, attached, and reinforcing firing units; developing logistic priorities in coordination with the executive officer, Logistics Officer, and Personnel Officer; directing the operations and positioning of the command post. Show less Responsible for the overall training, manning, and equipping of a team of five (5) Contingency Contracting Officers (CCOs). Acquires supplies and services needed by the warfighter to support essential missions in response to a crisis, contingency, or declaration of war. Ensures that contract files are documented, prepared, maintained, and closed out. Oversees, regularly records, and reports on contractor performance. Trains and monitors the performance of CCO-appointed representatives, including FOOs and CORs. Ensures that contingency contracting is accomplished in accordance with AOR policies and procedures. Ensures that efforts are synchronized with commander and contingency mission guidance.• Led a team of CCOs supporting Combined Joint Task Force Horn of Africa (CJTF-HOA) with contracted supplies and services across several African nations with complex market relations, experiencing dynamic threats, and meeting evolving mission priorities.• Provided expert contracting advice and sound acquisition strategies in a combined and joint environment involving numerous military branches, government agencies, and foreign nation partners.• Successfully built, trained, and managed a team of 5 Soldiers, in preparation to support a Combatant Command with contingency operations.• Organized, led, and managed an aggressive training schedule filled with multiple training periods, schools, and packed with Mission Essential Task List (METL) training.• Gained international experience by living and working in Djibouti. Additionally traveled to and worked in other locations in Africa and Europe. Show less Responsible for the overall training, manning, and equipping of a team of five (5) Contingency Contracting Officers (CCOs). Acquires supplies and services needed by the warfighter to support essential missions in response to a crisis, contingency, or declaration of war. Ensures that contract files are documented, prepared, maintained, and closed out. Oversees, regularly records, and reports on contractor performance. Trains and monitors the performance of CCO-appointed representatives, including FOOs and CORs. Ensures that contingency contracting is accomplished in accordance with AOR policies and procedures. Ensures that efforts are synchronized with commander and contingency mission guidance.• Led a team of CCOs supporting Combined Joint Task Force Horn of Africa (CJTF-HOA) with contracted supplies and services across several African nations with complex market relations, experiencing dynamic threats, and meeting evolving mission priorities.• Provided expert contracting advice and sound acquisition strategies in a combined and joint environment involving numerous military branches, government agencies, and foreign nation partners.• Successfully built, trained, and managed a team of 5 Soldiers, in preparation to support a Combatant Command with contingency operations.• Organized, led, and managed an aggressive training schedule filled with multiple training periods, schools, and packed with Mission Essential Task List (METL) training.• Gained international experience by living and working in Djibouti. Additionally traveled to and worked in other locations in Africa and Europe. Show less Subject matter expert for fires responsible for conducting liaison with subordinate, parallel, or higher joint and multinational headquarters. Serves as a staff expert in fires to provide advice and assistance to supported units and ensures communication, mutual understanding, and unity of purpose and action. Advises and assists in the planning, preparation, coordination, and integration of fires including artillery,mortar, radar, electronic attack, air support, naval surface fire support, and other joint and multinational assets.* Keenly liaised with the Republic of Korea's Army to ensure continuous fire support during a military exercise.* Gained international experience by living and working in South Korea.* Served as the Brigade Fire Support Officer for an Infantry Brigade Combat Team during a key certification exercise. Show less Commander of an Illinois Army National Guard, 87 Soldier, 6 Gun, 105mm towed Artillery Battery. Responsible for the supervision and standardization of the operations of the Battery to the maximum extent possible. Reconnoiter and select battery positions. Supervise the Fire Direction Center when necessary. Plan specific actions to enhance the survivability of the battery. Plan for the conduct of hasty survey and when necessary perform survey. Plan logistics for the battery supply, mess and maintenance. Establish and maintain communication and electronic security. Keep the Battalion Commander informed on the disposition of the battery at all times.• Served as Battery Commander for an Army National Guard Unit consisting of 87 Soldiers and over $16 million of equipment. • Under my command, the unit received the highest ratings in the battalion in a Command Inspection.• This position required extensive attention to detail, as the unit was required to routinely fire high explosive ammunition at ranges of over 7 miles; any error could result in death or destruction of property.• Successfully fielded a new weapon system through research, study, and training to allow the battery to provide faster and more effective fires in support of operations. Show less Provides cradle-to-grave contracting support to numerous armories and Air National Guard bases located throughout the state of Illinois. Responsible for pre-solicitation, solicitation, pre-award, award, and post award activities for supply, service, information technology, architect engineer, and construction acquisitions.• Completed 849 reported actions with a total obligated value of $33,560,194.34.• Temporarily promoted to Lead Contract Specialist in 2014, responsible for the training and workload management of all contracting officers, contract specialists, and procurement technicians in the United States Property and Fiscal Officer for Illinois (USPFO-IL)• Successfully organized and managed preparation for the 2014 Procurement Management Review, which directly led to our office passing such a critical inspection.• Masterfully managed the acquisition of the Illinois Army National Guard’s Architect-Engineering MATOC leading to more streamlined acquisitions of A-E services.• Successfully executed the acquisition of a multi-million-dollar medical services BPA under a Federal Supply Schedule to ensure the IL Army National Guard maintained medical readiness.• Served as a Contracting Officer with a $15,000,000.00 warrant. Show less The Fire Direction Officer (FDO) supervises tactical and technical fire direction within the battalion. Based on guidance from the battalion commander, operations officer, intelligence officer, and targeting officer, the FDO decides where and how the battalion and any reinforcing units will fire. The FDO has specific responsibilities, which may include:*Supervise the Fire Direction Center (FDC).*Assist the FA battalion commander in developing tactical and technical fire direction guidance.*Develop and supervise input of appropriate parameters into the AFATDS, coordination of these parameters with maneuver battalion fires cells and the BCT fires cell, reinforcing, reinforced FA units, and FAB HQ, as necessary.*Coordinate digital communications and database elements with users of non-FA digital mission command systems, as required.*Analyze requested targets for attack by FA. Consider ROE, desired effects, method of fire, and types of ammunition needed.*Verify dissemination of fire orders, schedules of fire, and schedules of targets to subordinate and supporting unit FDCs, fires cells, and the supported higher HQ fires cell, as required.*Maintain the current target display or overlay.*Keep FA elements informed of targets.*Establish procedures and train personnel to accomplish tactical and technical fire direction in adegraded (manual and voice) mode.*Establish procedures for interface between AFATDS and any other digital system with which the FDC may be required to interface.*Establish and maintain the tactical air integration system link in particular to receive the airspacecontrol overlay, and facilitate coordination and clearance of airspace for mission execution. Show less As Battery XO, responsible for establishing and maintaining the firing capability of the battery; supervising the displacement, movement and occupation of the battery; supervising the maintenance of battery equipment; supervising the receipt and issue of ammunition; verifying the minimum QE for each howitzer and computed safety data; ensuring that the weapon location data report is submitted and updated and that the section chiefs reports are submitted to the FDC. Additionally responsible for managing Platoon Leaders, Fire Direction Officers, and any additional lieutenants. Responsible for the Battery lieutenant mentorship program. Serves as position commander in absence of the Battery Commander.* Served as Landing Zone OIC for Sling Load Operations involving the slinging of howitzers by both CH-47s and UH-60s* Led numerous convoy operations* Supervised the safe firing of over 150 rounds of high explosive ammunition Show less

  • Operations Officer

    Jul 2019 - Mar 2020

  • Contract Team Leader

    Sept 2018 - Jun 2019

  • Contract Team Leader

    Sept 2017 - Sept 2018

  • Fire Support Officer

    Aug 2016 - Sept 2017

  • Battalion Fire Support Officer

    Sept 2015 - Aug 2016

  • Battery Commander

    Dec 2013 - Aug 2015

  • Contract Specialist

    Jul 2009 - Aug 2015

  • Battalion Fire Direction Officer

    Jun 2012 - Dec 2013

  • Battery Executive Officer

    Feb 2012 - Jun 2012
• 

  U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs

  Aug 2015 - Oct 2016

  Contract Specialist

  The Contract Specialist ensures that specifications and statements of work are prepared in a manner which adequately describes the Government's requirements without restricting competition. Advises technical personnel as to inadequate, ambiguous or vague specifications to avoid Government liability. Performs a complete review of recommended sole-source requirements and conducts necessary market analysis to test the noncompetitive assumptions of requisitions. Prepares required findings and sufficiently documents. Conducts public bid openings, reviews bids, and determines responsiveness and responsibility of low bidder in accordance with applicable regulatory requirements. Resolves protests, mistakes in bids, late bid situations and coordinates with the Small Business Administration for Certificate of Competencies (COC's). Identifies appropriate negotiation team members; formulates pre-­ negotiation objectives, and facilitates the negotiation as the chief negotiator. Prepares price negotiation memoranda, outlining in writing the details of negotiations with contractors in competitive and noncompetitive negotiations. Provides signatory authority and executes contract awards within warrant authority for their own contract awards and for staff that lack requisite warrant authority.• Completed 32 reported actions with a total obligated value of $353,928.72. This total includes a partial termination at -$6,350,069.67, and a FAR 15 acquisition at $3,355,000.00.• Successfully negotiated a modification in excess of $1,000,000 to resume a construction project that had been delayed for years, and incorporated strict release language to protect the Government interests in future negotiations.• Successfully negotiated a series of undefinitized change orders, a claim, and an appeal to the CBCA to allow for the definitization and completion of a construction project that had been stalled for months.• Served as a Contracting Officer with a $10,000,000.00 warrant. Show less

• 

  US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

  Oct 2016 - Aug 2017

  Contract Specialist

  Serves as an advisor to program officials in procurement planning activities. Prepares solicitation documents such as Requests for Quotations, Invitation for Bids, Requests for Proposals, and other supporting procurement documentation. Performs cost analysis or detailed analysis of all elements of cost in contractor proposals. Analyzes potential problem areas with regard to progress of work, available funds, requests for changes, delays in performance and possible termination actions. Spends more than 50% of your work time on contracts, grants/cooperative agreements, and/or interagency agreements.• Completed 32 reported actions with a total obligated value of $3,671,907.77.• Administered a complex, cost-type contract valued in the hundreds of millions, by tracking funding, enforcing contract compliance, issuing work assignments, negotiating fee, and negotiating indirect rate adjustments.• Served as a member of the EPA Acquisition Advisory Council (EPAAC) through advisory and collaborative development and revision of agency policy.• Successfully solicited and awarded a site specific, remedial action contract using FAR Part 15 procedures, a first for the office.• Served as a Contracting Officer with a $5,000,000.00 warrant. Show less

• 

  U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs

  Aug 2017 - Jul 2019

  Branch Chief

  Supervises a group of employees performing work at the GS-5 through GS-12/13 level. Some of the staff could be located virtually. Exercises supervisory authorities and responsibilities involving work assignment and review, as well as the administrative and personnel management functions relative to the staff supervised. Provides administrative and technical supervision necessary for accomplishing the work of the team. Distributes workload within the team and ensures the work assignments of employees in the team are carried out. Reviews the work of team members at various stages of completion, to assure compliance with Federal and VA Acquisition Regulations, Veterans Administration (VA)/Veterans Health Administration (VHA) Policies, VA/VHA Directives, VA/VHA Information Letters, VA/VHA Handbooks, and Network Contracting Office (NCO) standard operating procedures (SOP)s. Tracks work assigned to the team from receipt of procurement requests through contract close-out. Incumbent provides status reports to the Director of Contracting (DoC).• Successfully managed 397 contract requirements with a total value of $126,292,860.11, ensuring that four major VA facilities were well supported.• Quickly and aggressively transformed the office by rapidly filling vacancies (reducing vacancies by 43% in only 5 months).• Worked closely with 1102s to prepare and request warrants, increasing the amount of warrants by 100% in only 6 months and increased the total warrant capacity of the office by 669%.• Selected by name to prepare and present regional training on price reasonableness determinations.• First in the office to implement the use of Ordering Officers, and paved the way for future use by sharing lessons learned, templates, and training.• Served as a Contracting Officer with a $50,000,000.00 warrant. Show less

• 

  U.S. Department of Labor

  Jul 2019 - now

  As a Division Chief, the incumbent is responsible for the procurement of goods and services for DOL agencies. The incumbent plans, directs, and coordinates all activities and related duties of senior level, highly skilled and professional procurement personnel assigned to the Division. This entails awarding and administering all contract actions, many of which are complex construction and A&E services, project management, and/or other services for which precedents or historical data are seldom available. Develops operating procedures, and practices that address highly complex problems and issues that arise as a result of day-to-day operations.Develops and/or review complex contractual pricing arrangements and incentives characterized by various contracting techniques, i.e., sharing arrangements such as cost-plus-incentive-fees or fixed-price-incentive-fees where the agency and the contractor share cost risk, or economic price adjustment clauses for adjusting labor and material costs where price cannot be reasonably predicted at the time of award. Audits or reviews major acquisitions of the highest complexity. Presents findings, recommends corrective actions and policy or procurement improvements. Reviews, advises on, develops and recommends operating division-wide or agency-wide procurement processes and systems, procedures and policies, or equivalent assignment.Interprets policies, defines objectives and makes authoritative decisions, which establish precedents or resolve technical and procedural problems with the office.Serves as the principal Contracting Officer for the Division supervised, exercising sound business acumen and judicial use of their signatory authority for all staff and is the responsible official for the quality and accuracy of work products and all contractual documents.Performs and/or directs negotiations at a mastery level with contractors to resolve problems concerning the extent of contractual obligations. Show less The incumbent has authority for all contractual actions and phases of the assigned program area including initial planning, requirements definition, first article testing, agile procurement, software as a service, spare and repair parts, construction, architecture, and engineering, information technology acquisition, professional services, technical data, , training equipment and materials. Work includes a wide range of specialized contract actions such as discussion/negotiation, cost and price analysis, and contract administration. These contract actions are highly complex in nature, have a high dollar value, and include but are not limited to, IT contract actions, facility support contract actions, concessions, and interagency agreements. Contract actions are awarded to a wide variety of entities including commercial vendors, nonprofit organizations, and small businesses of various socio-economic groups.Serves as the principal contract/business advisor to major program office(s) and represents OSPE as the Program Office's contractual authority. Plans, develops, and establishes the contractual strategy for the overall acquisition support for the requirement. Advises requiring activity managers of their roles and responsibilities in meeting program needs through the procurement system. Identifies and recommends strategies for enhancing competition and recommended sources. Recommends whether to proceed with the acquisition of advisory and assistance services and any changes to requirements that are necessary to comply with the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) and DOL policies and procedures. Determines whether the services are personal or non-personal. Issues solicitations and awards as necessary.• Manages all Job Corps Center operations contracts for the Chicago Region (Region V); a total of 16 contracts with a total value of $1,038,427,411.87.• Serves as a Contracting Officer with a $200,000,000.00 warrant. Show less Serves as Branch Supervisor and is responsible to the Division Chief for all aspects associated with the operation of the Division. The Division serves in all aspects of procurement and contract actions, including selection, awarding and administration of contracts, purchase agreements, assistance and guidance in the field. Provides OCM first level supervision and signatory authority for 2-3 employees consisting of contract specialists, and/or administrative support. Conducts competitive solicitations resulting in contracts that comply with the Federal Acquisition Regulation, Department of Labor Acquisition Regulations, Federal Appropriations Law, and the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act. Plans, directs and coordinates all activities and related duties or a Procurement Branch or group of Contract Specialists. Monitors contract specialist work and workload. Assigns work and reviews completed products. Reviews and approves awards and modifications to awards that are consistent with internal standard operating procedures for conducting procurement activities within the organization, to ensure timely performance, general compliance, and effective management of the contract vehicle. Interprets and applies laws, regulations, policies, standards, or procedures to evaluate procurement and appropriations activities and ensure compliance. Reviews procurement strategies to ensure that the government is acquiring products and/or services at a fair and reasonable price• Manages all Job Corps Center operations contracts for the Chicago Region (Region V); a total of 16 contracts with a total value of $970,122,129.84.• Led the implementation of firm fixed-price contracts for Job Corps Centers, as the first Contracting Officer to solicit the new type of contract.• Effectively reviewed REAs and negotiated to save taxpayers more than $7.8M, and counting, on a major change to Region V contracts.• Served as a Contracting Officer with a $200,000,000.00 warrant. Show less

  • Division Chief

    Jan 2022 - now

  • Regional Lead Contracting Officer

    Apr 2020 - Jan 2022

  • Branch Chief

    Jul 2019 - Apr 2020
• 

  Army National Guard

  Feb 2021 - now

  The BCT FA battalion commander is also the brigade FSCOORD. The FA battalion commander receives mission orders from the supported higher HQ and plans fires in support of operations. Aided by the battalion staff the battalion commander directs the tactical, logistical, administrative, and training activities of the FA battalion. In the role of FSCOORD, the battalion commander is responsible for advising the brigade commander and the maneuver battalion commanders on the employment and training of all fires assets, as required. FM 3-09 details the duties of the FSCOORD. The battalion commander directs employment of the FA battalion in accordance with assigned missions and guidance from the supported higher HQ. The battalion commander works closely with the commanders of supported and supporting units to ensure that the FA battalion can accomplish its mission. The battalion commander has specific responsibilities, which may include:1. Oversee the training of the battalion, with particular emphasis on those elements directly concerned with delivery of fires and FS.2. Continually assess the needs of the battalion in terms of its ability to sustain its internal operations and to support assigned missions.3. Advise the brigade commander on the effects of fires on the environment and rules of engagement (ROE).4. Establish clear and consistent standards and guidance for current and future operations.5. Establish policies to promote discipline and ensure a positive and ethical command climate within the battalion.6. Provide for the administrative and logistical support of the battalion.7. Coordinate fires digital training with the supported higher HQ fires cell and battalion or squadron fires cells, as required.8. Train the company fire support teams (FIST).9. Control the operations and fires of FA units.10. Provide guidance and ensure targeting and lethal effects are applied in an ethical manner.11. Direct preparation of the FA battalion operation order. Show less Commander of a Regional Training Institute (RTI) battalion providing training to qualify active duty, reserve, and National Guard Soldiers as Motor Transport Operators. Ensures all instructors meet instructor qualifications and certification requirements set by the proponent. Conducts class based on the Army Program of Individual Training and the Training Resource Arbitration Panel. Supervises, monitors, observes and evaluates instruction/instructors at all sites under coordinating authority. Assists proponent school in certification of instructors. Reports unresolved issues, in memorandum format, through the chain of command. Maintain administrative and operational accountability of support documentation for accreditation. Submits requests for waivers directly to the proponent school or appropriate agency. Establishes SOP for operations and support for the school battalions, companies, and training sites. Performs/submits self-assessments in accordance with TRADOC Quality Assessment Office policy and guidance. Ensures every qualified Soldier is given the opportunity for continued service and is processed for authorized incentives. Ensures every unqualified Soldier is counseled. Reviews Deliberate Risk Assessment Worksheets. Show less The fire support officer serves as the special staff officer for fires and integrates fires into the scheme of maneuver for the commander. The fire support officer leads the targeting process and fire support planning for the delivery of fires to include preparation fires, harassing fires, interdiction fires, suppressive fires, destruction fires, and deception fires. The fire support officer leads the fire support cell and prepares Annex D (Fires) of the operation order. He also coordinates with the electronic warfare officer and the air liaison officer. The BCT S-3 coordinates this position. Show less As second in command and chief of staff, the executive officer must keep abreast of current and anticipated operations. The executive officer must be prepared to assume the duties of the commander if the need arises. The executive officer must position himself forward, traveling among the battalion command post, the batteries, and the trains area(s) to perform his duties. The executive officer has specific responsibilities, which may include: * Direct staff actions and operations, to include the battalion’s military decision making process, especially production of the FA battalion operation order and battalion staff involvement in the brigade FS plan.* Supervise administrative and logistic operations within the battalion, to include development of the battalion’s combat and field train’s concept and sustainment plan.* Collaborate and communicate with his counterparts on the BCT, FAB, and maneuver battalion staffs, as required.* Direct development of continuity of operation plans for the command post, the various operations centers, and each staff section.* Direct development of mutual support unit operations, as necessary or as directed, with another FA unit.* Enforce the commander’s standards throughout the unit, in the battalion commander’s absence. Show less Served as commander of a task force of more than 450 Soldiers and Airman, supporting static and mobile, mass vaccination sites covering 44 counties of southern Illinois as well as correctional centers throughout the state. The task force commander receives mission orders from the Joint Task Force in support of mass vaccination and mobile vaccination operations. Aided by the command cell staff the task force commander directs the tactical, logistical, administrative, and training activities of subordinate teams. The task force commander coordinates with the Joint Task Force, the Illinois Department of Corrections, and local health departments to provide vaccination support in response to the COIVD-19 pandemic.• Commanded an organization that successfully delivered over 350,000 vaccinations via 5 static sties and 16 mobile teams.• Built an organization with multiple levels of command and control able to manage over 450 Soldiers and Airmen spread out over southern Illinois and correctional centers throughout the state. Show less

  • Battalion Commander

    Mar 2022 - now

  • Battalion Commander

    Dec 2021 - Mar 2022

  • Brigade Fire Support Officer

    Sept 2021 - Nov 2021

  • Executive Officer

    Apr 2020 - Aug 2021

  • Task Force Commander

    Feb 2021 - May 2021