REDSTONE ARSENAL, Ala. -- The Army activated its newest contingency contracting battalion during a ceremony here Aug. 18.
In addition to activating the 921st Contingency Contracting Battalion, the ceremony included an assumption of command for Lt. Col. Margaret Sharpnack, who is the unit's first commander.
Master Sgt. Barrett Taylor, the acting sergeant major for the 921st, held the guidon as Maj. Gen. Ted Harrison, commanding general, Army Contracting Command, Rebecca Weirick, executive director, ACC-Redstone contracting center, and Sharpnack unfurled the unit's colors to symbolize its activation.
During his comments, Harrison, who presided over the ceremony, discussed the 921st's dual missions. The battalion's mission at Redstone includes supporting ACC-Redstone, which provides the unit's Soldiers with valuable contracting experience and improves contracting operations here. The 921st also has an expeditionary mission to deploy worldwide as needed to provide contingency contracting support to operational forces.
Harrison addressed Sharpnack saying, "You will have the unique opportunity to write the first chapter of this unit's history, I am sure you will make it a best-seller."
Sharpnack, of Austin Texas, has been a contracting officer for more than seven years. Her previous contracting assignments include a year in Afghanistan as the deputy chief for the Camp Phoenix Regional Contracting Center and two years with the 410th Contracting Support Brigade, Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston, Texas. She was the brigade's operations chief and deputy chief of policy.
During her comments Sharpnack said that she had had the honor of working with some of the most professional officers, NCOs and civilians in the Army. She continued, saying that her assuming command of the 921st was a reflection of the impact of these professionals and how they had molded her into the caring leader she is today.
"It is a great honor and I will serve to the utmost of my abilities," she said, "with integrity and the greatest care for the soldiers of the 921st."
ACC has activated four other contingency contracting battalions since February: the 922nd CCBn at Fort Campbell, Kentucky; the 918th CCBn at Fort Carson, Colorado; the 919th CCBn at Fort Bliss, Texas; and the 925th CCBn at Fort Drum, New York.
ACC provides contracting support to the U.S. Army and Department of Defense. In fiscal year 2014 ACC has executed nearly 112,000 contracting actions valued at more than $37.9 billion. Last fiscal year ACC processed more than 191,000 contracts totaling more than $61.2 billion. The command accounts for about 70 percent of the Army's contract dollars, and one of every six federal contract dollars.
Qualified ACC Soldiers and civilian contracting officers are part of the Army Acquisition Corps. With more than 12,000 members, the AAC provides the Army with a trained and skilled workforce to support the warfighter. The AAC celebrates its 25th anniversary on Oct. 13.
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