Dolores Nichols

As the Deputy Program Manager for a significant $263 million ACAT III program, I orchestrated a multifaceted approach to overseeing military, civilian, and acquisition support contractors. My leadership was pivotal in driving transformative improvements and achieving critical milestones within a dynamic operational environment.

One of the standout achievements under my stewardship was the impressive enhancement of Total Compliance Technical Orders (TCTO) from a mere 12% to an outstanding 92% within a concise timeframe of three months. This accomplishment not only showcased our team's dedication but also underscored our commitment to operational excellence and regulatory adherence.

I spearhead the development and maintenance of comprehensive status briefings and reporting systems. This includes the meticulous oversight of LCMP, PEO Activity Reports (PAR), Monthly Acquisition Report (MAR), and Budget Documentation updates. By ensuring the accuracy and timeliness of these critical documents, I facilitated informed decision-making processes for key stakeholders, including the Aerospace Management Systems Division Material Leader (SML) and Program Executive Officer (PEO) Digital.

Furthermore, I played a pivotal role in driving cost-saving initiatives for the USAF through active participation in a rigorous source selection process. By consolidating multiple operational systems contracts, we not only streamlined operations but also realized substantial financial efficiencies, underscoring our commitment to fiscal responsibility and operational optimization.

Collaboration was central to our success, and I fostered a culture of synergy by engaging with military, government, civilian, and senior leaders. Through regular communication and coordination, we aligned our efforts to achieve target objectives and project goals, ensuring mission success in a complex and ever-evolving landscape.

My leadership extended beyond strategic planning to encompass the day-to-day management of supervised teams. Through regular meetings and updates, I provided essential information to functional and command leaders, fostering transparency and accountability across all levels of the organization.

Additionally, I took ownership of program-level responses for leadership concurrence, meticulously reviewing and editing briefings, reports, and documents to guarantee accuracy and effectiveness. This attention to detail was further underscored by my proactive approach to addressing higher headquarters suspenses, demonstrating effective time management and organizational prowess.

Lastly, I implemented an Integrated Master Schedule, optimizing program efficiency and ensuring timely project completion. By aligning resources, timelines, and deliverables, I enabled seamless coordination across disparate teams and stakeholders, driving operational excellence and achieving strategic objectives.

In my role as an executive overseeing technical reporting for a diverse array of stakeholders, I managed reporting activities for over 75 military, civilian, and acquisition support contractors across five ACAT programs totaling $310 million over the Future Years Defense Program (FYDP).

A significant aspect of my responsibilities involved reviewing and updating status briefings and reporting systems critical to decision-making processes. These included LCMP, PEO Activity Reports (PAR), Monthly Acquisition Report (MAR), and Budget Documentation updates. I regularly presented these reports to key leadership figures such as the Aerospace Management Systems Division Material Leader (SML) and Program Executive Officer (PEO) Digital, ensuring alignment with strategic objectives and financial transparency.

In addition to my reporting duties, I took charge of managing the annual travel budget for the branch, overseeing logistical arrangements such as rental car sharing, hotel reservations, and meeting locations. Particularly during the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, I ensured strict adherence to safety guidelines while facilitating essential travel and in-person engagements.

Collaboration was central to our success, and I worked closely with military, government civilian personnel, and senior leaders to drive collective efforts towards achieving target objectives and project goals. This collaborative spirit was instrumental in navigating the complexities of the pandemic, during which I successfully merged two branches into the second largest branch within the HBA division, ensuring uninterrupted operations while teleworking.

Furthermore, I provided invaluable support to branch leadership by managing essential documents, initiating email merges, updating records, and establishing a new branch SharePoint page, enhancing communication and efficiency within the team.

My role also involved facilitating meetings to review program information and managing staffing documents, including LCMP Document Workflow, from draft through approval. Additionally, I prepared branch-level responses for leadership review, ensuring timely and accurate delivery of critical information.

Recognizing the importance of personnel recognition, I took the initiative to write award packages for military and government civilian personnel, fostering a culture of appreciation and morale within the organization.

Moreover, I took ownership of program responsiveness to higher headquarters suspenses and effectively managed human resource requirements for organic personnel, ensuring compliance and operational readiness.

In times of increased workload or absence, I seamlessly provided additional coverage for the Program Executive Group (PEG), handling Division-level suspenses in workflow, demonstrating adaptability and a proactive approach to supporting organizational needs.

As an executive administrator, I provided comprehensive support to high-ranking officials including the branch chief, deputy branch chief, and lead engineer. My responsibilities encompassed managing calendars, coordinating meetings, and facilitating travel arrangements to optimize their operational efficiency.

A key aspect of my role involved meticulously scheduling meeting appointments for all branch personnel, fostering collaboration and coordination within the team. Additionally, I took charge of planning office functions and events, ensuring a conducive and engaging work environment.

Efficient inventory management was essential to seamless office operations, and I oversaw the procurement of office supplies, furniture, and equipment, ensuring that the branch had all necessary resources at hand.

In the realm of travel logistics, I maintained a keen eye on detail, efficiently tracking travel orders for both military and government civilian personnel using the Defense Travel System (DTS). This involved ensuring the accuracy of travel plans and monitoring approval statuses to facilitate smooth and timely travel arrangements.

Maintaining accurate contact information was paramount, and I took responsibility for updating contact details at both branch and division levels. Additionally, I managed incoming calls for the branch chief, ensuring daily accountability of branch personnel and efficient communication channels.

For group Temporary Duty (TDY) travel, I meticulously organized travel plans, including coordinating rental car sharing, hotel reservations, and mapping out meeting locations, optimizing the efficiency of these engagements.

Ensuring the accuracy and functionality of tools such as the LCMP tool and SharePoint sites was integral to our operations. I oversaw updates to the LCMP tool, ensuring error-free content and grammatical accuracy, while also managing SharePoint sites and granting access permissions to requestors.

Recognizing outstanding achievements within the team was important for morale and motivation. Therefore, I assisted in writing award packages for both military and government civilian personnel, acknowledging their contributions and dedication.

Maintaining compliance with Air Force rules and regulations was a top priority, and I managed the branch file plan, ensuring adherence to established protocols.

Additionally, I handled the workflow email inbox, meeting suspense deadlines, completing tasks, and relaying pertinent information to the program management team, ensuring efficient communication and task completion.

Finally, I managed the encoding of proximity badges for building access, ensuring that security measures were maintained and access controls were enforced effectively.