NCMA Texoma chapter in 82nd CONS earns Graalman Gold Award Published April 30, 2013 By Airman 1st Class Jelani Gibson 82nd Training Wing Public Affairs SHEPPARD AIR FORCE BASE, Texas -- The 82nd Contracting Squadron's National Contract Management Association Texoma chapter earned its 10th Gold Graalman Award and received a letter of declaration from Texas governor Rick Perry in recognition. The Walter R. Graalman Award, named after an Air Force contracting brigadier general, is an award given by the NMCA, an international chapter comprised of contracting specialists with over 22,000 members. The Graalman Award recognizes chapters who excel at their career field and provide good contracting quality. The 82nd CONS has members who are part of the Texoma chapter, and while it remains one of the smaller chapters, no other chapter has accrued as many awards. The award also came on the chapter's preparation for NCMA week, which takes place from July 21-27. "It's a time where we give credit to people who make our job easier," said Pearlene Carr, Government Purchase Card program coordinator for the 82nd CONS and president of the NCMA Texoma chapter. "People always say they want to be a doctor or a lawyer, but nobody ever says they want to be a contracting specialist." Carr looks at her career field as one that is important, dynamic and always changing. "It's a career field that's always growing," Carr said. Governor Rick Perry also signed a proclamation recognizing the Texoma Chapter's excellence and work ethic. "It puts more light on the chapter," Carr said. "We're a small chapter and have known each other throughout the years; we've had to work to keep up with the bigger chapters." Carr counts the favorite part of her occupation as the nature of helping others out on the job. "I like working with people and problem solving," Carr said. "The things that people use in everyday life, there are contracts for that." Another person who thinks the Texoma chapter has unique qualities that make it successful is Robin Hart, contracting specialist for the 82nd CONS and vice president of the Texoma chapter. "We have dedicated people who really care about what they do," Hart said. "We're trying to incorporate the community in everything we do." Professionalism and the amount of hard work is seen by many in the 82nd CONS as the reason why the Texoma chapter excels at what they do. "It's a very behind-the-scenes career field," said Maj. Hayes Weidman, 82nd CONS commander. "There is virtually no mission that doesn't rely on contracting support." Weidman looks at his squadron's success as part of the bigger mission at Sheppard. "I like knowing that we had hand in seeing airmen trained and inspired," Weidman said.