FORT BRAGG, N.C. (USASOC News Service, April 24, 2015) - U.S. Army Captain Miracle Garcia, 905th Contracting Battalion (Army Contracting Command), was named the 2014 U.S. Special Operations Command Outstanding Contingency Contracting Officer of the Year for her success while serving as a Contracting Officer supporting Army Special Operations Forces.
Garcia served as the U.S. Army Special Operations Command (USASOC) Field Ordering Officer (FOO) Manager during contingency operations in support of Civil Affairs and Military Information Support Operations (MISO) missions, and Special Forces Joint Combined Exchange training and Counter Narcotics Training.
"It is an honor to have received the USSOCOM Outstanding Contingency Contracting Officer of the Year Award," said Garcia. "This award represents the trusted partnership between the Army Materiel Command, the Army Contracting Community, 905th Contracting Battalion, USSOCOM and USASOC. The Army Contracting Community has shown the Army Special Operations Force community we are of significant value and that we are here to support them in their global missions."
Garcia led the 92nd Civil Affairs Battalion, USASOC Office of Counsel, and U.S. European Command representatives in solving a high visibility Humanitarian and Civic Assistance mission. Garcia and her FOO team developed an innovative and low-cost approach to purchase water filters that helped provide potable water to over twenty thousand Bosnians and avert a potential health crisis.
According to Maj. Sean Imbs, 905th Contracting Bn. executive officer, "Garcia empowered ARSOF units with the authority to make local, mission essential micro-purchases from the local economy, representing ARSOF in a positive light, and improving relationships with 37 partner nations under the National Security Strategy tenet of Training with Partner Nations."
In addition to serving as the battalion operations officer, and working towards her graduate degree, Garcia managed over 60 FOO teams outside the continental U.S. with more than $500k in funds committed to U.S. and U.S. Special Operations Force missions. Her teams provided field expedient capabilities to ARSOF in helping meet USSOCOM and the Nation's partnering and security assistance commitment worldwide.
On April 7, Garcia was formally recognized by the USASOC Deputy Commanding General, Maj. Gen. K.K. Chinn accompanied by Garcia's Commanding General, Maj. Gen. Theodore Harrison of the Army Contracting Command (ACC).
"I could not have done this job without the mentorship and trust placed in me by my Military Leadership and Army Civilian Professionals. Specifically, LTC Joshua Burris, Commander of the 905th Contracting Battalion and Ms. Barbara Bowles as the Director of USASOC Contracting. Nearly three ago, they coached, mentored and placed their trust in me, which influenced me to go above and beyond. This award really belongs to them, the NCOs of the 905th Contracting Battalion and USASOC's Contracting Civilians -- without their support, their commitment to Army Special Operations; I would not have been able to successfully fulfill my duties."
Currently, Garcia is the 905th Contracting Bn. operations officer and a USSOCOM warranted contracting officer. She is serving as the USASOC FOO program manager at Fort Bragg, and oversees more than 60 ARSOF FOOs at any given time, operating in nearly 40 countries.
"The FOO program provides economic power and capabilities to ARSOF in meeting our partnering and security assistance mission across the globe in support of our Nation's strategic mission, said Garcia. I am so proud of what Army contracting brings to the ARSOF community. Though we don't perform any special operations peculiar mission, and we wear the [Army Materiel Command] unit patch, we have always been considered a part of the USASOC team, and this, truly, is the best part of working for the Army Special Operations Community."
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