James Nagle

JAMES NAGLE a retired partner and now Of Counsel in the firm of Smith Currie Oles, Mr. Nagle is a nationally renowned expert who has written six books on federal contracting, “Nash, Cibinic and Nagle, Administration of Government Contracts, Fifth Edition,” (2016); “Whelan & Nagle, Cases and Materials on Federal Government Contracts, Third Edition” (Foundation Press 2007); “Federal Procurement Regulations: Policy, Practice and Procedures," (ABA Press, 1987); "How to Review a Federal Contract and Research Federal Contract Law, Second Edition," (ABA Press, 2000); "Federal Construction Contracting," (Wiley Law Publications, 1992); and "The History of Government Contracting, Third Edition," (2nd edition George Washington University (GWU) Press, 1999) (3rd Ed. Government Training Inc., 2012). Besides contributing to six other books, his over 80 articles, on such subjects as protests, changes, terminations, claims, and the Federal Acquisition Regulation, have appeared in such publications as the “Public Contract Law Journal (PCLJ),” “Military Law Review,” “NCMA Journal,” and “Contract Management.” He has also written “1948: The Crossroads Year”.

Vernon J. Edwards

Vernon J. Edwards is a researcher, writer, and lecturer in Federal contracting, a regular contributing author to The Nash & Cibinic Report, and a member of the Procurement Roundtable.

Mr. Edwards was a contract negotiator and contracting officer for the United States Air Force from 1974 through 1981 and worked in a number of Air Force weapon system program offices, including Space Development Plans, Advanced Ballistic Re-entry Systems, Defense Meteorological Satellites, and Space Defense Systems.

In 1982, Mr. Edwards was appointed a tri-services contracting officer and negotiated independent research and development and bid and proposal cost ceilings for the Department of Defense and for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. In 1983, he was appointed Chief, Plans Division, Deputy for Contracting and Manufacturing, at Headquarters, Air Force Systems Command. In 1984, he was appointed to the Contract Review Committee at that Headquarters.

Donald E. Mansfield

Donald E. Mansfield has trained over 4,000 students in Federal contracting over the past fifteen years. If you were not one of his students, chances are you know someone that was. Don currently teaches The FAR Bootcamp®, The Source Selection Bootcamp®, and for Don Acquisition LLC, The SAP Course and The DFARS Course. He is also a contract strategy consultant for multiple Navy acquisition programs. Prior to launching Don Acquisition LLC, Don was a Professor of Contract Management for Defense Acquisition University (DAU). While at DAU, Don led the development FAR Fundamentals (CON 090) and subsequently managed the course for four years. During this time, CON 090 became the highest-rated DAU course in terms of general benefit and direct applicability to on-the-job tasks. He also taught several other courses within the DAU curriculum in source selection, decision-making, and small business programs. Don also developed and maintained the DAU Provision and Clause Matrix. In March 2019, DAU gave Don the DAU President’s Award to recognize his accomplishments over his 13-years with the organization.

Michael Fischetti

Michael P. Fischetti (JD, MS, MA, BA, CPCM, CAE) is an experienced acquisition executive and subject matter expert and writer in contract management, with prior experience working and leading operations and policy positions in government contracting.

He currently is a Professor of Program and Contract Management, working with students as well as experienced acquisition leaders for the Defense Acquisition University (Defense Systems Management College) and the University of Virginia. He most recently was the Executive Director of the 20,000 member National Contract Management Association (NCMA), a professional association for those practicing contract management and related professions, whereby (along with program and organizational growth) he revised the Contract Management Body of Knowledge and created the Contract Management Standard, obtaining ANSI accreditation. Prior to that role, he was Component Acquisition Executive and Head of Contracting Activity for the $50B+ Defense Health Agency and before that, Director of the Office of Procurement and Financial Assistance policy for the Department of Energy’s $23B acquisition portfolio.

Robert “John” Pritchard

John Pritchard has over 44 years’ experience in contracting and acquisition. He was commissioned in the U.S. Air Force in 1979 and entered the Contracting Career Field. His Air Force career included numerous positions including Director of Contracts on two major System Program Offices at the National Reconnaissance Office; Commander, Defense Contract Management Office, Buffalo, NY; Deputy Director of Contracts, Secretary of Air Force Special Projects (SAF/SP); Procuring Contracting Officer on the Global Positioning System (GPS) Program, Los Angeles AFB; and Chief of Supply, Los Angeles AFB, CA. He retired from the military in 1999,

Nicholas A. Sanders

Nick Sanders has spent nearly 40 years in Federal acquisition environment as a contractor, consultant, author, and instructor. Mr. Sanders is a Certified Government Financial Manager (CGFM) and a Certified Compliance and Ethics Professional (CCEP). He provides advisory services to Government contractors in diverse industries, including those in Aerospace & Defense, Telecom, Bio-Pharmaceutical, Not-for-Profit, Technology, and Engineering & Construction. He has advised clients on a wide variety of matters, including compliance with Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) and the Cost Accounting Standards (CAS). Mr. Sanders has ten years of government contracts consulting experience in the “Big 4” professional accounting firms, and more than twenty years’ experience as a prime contractor in the Aerospace & Defense and Engineering & Construction industries.

Jeffrey E. Schmidt

Jeffrey Schmidt recently retired from Defense Acquisition University after 10 years of teaching and consulting. He served as the Director, Major Defense Acquisition Programs (MDAP) for DAU West Region from 2015-2022. He provided outreach and liaison with Program Executive Officers and MDAP Program Managers with the goal of assisting them with improved acquisition outcomes. Jeff is a recognized subject matter expert across a multi-functional spectrum to include Contracting, Acquisitions and Program Management. He is also a certified Executive Coach with expertise in leadership development and critical thinking. Jeff was an embed with the Defense Health Agency Component Acquisition Executive from 2020-2022. He assisted in strategic initiatives and program execution to improve Acquisitions across the agency.