Ms. MaryKathryn S. Robinson, a member of the Senior Executive Service, is the Associate, Deputy Assistant Secretary (Contracting) for Headquarters U.S. Air Force, the Pentagon, Arlington, Virginia. She assists the Deputy Assistant Secretary in carrying out responsibilities for all aspects of contracting related to the acquisition of weapon systems, logistics support, materiel and services for the Air Force. As ADAS(C), she oversees the training, organizing and equipping of a workforce of some 9,000 contracting professionals.
Prior to assuming her current position, Ms. Robinson was the Director for Contract Policy in the office of the Principal Director, Defense Pricing, Contracting, and Acquisition Policy, within the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment. In this capacity, she oversaw the development of new, innovative acquisition guidance and policies ensuring the currency of existing policy promoting a responsive acquisition system for warfighter mission needs. In addition, Ms. Robinson was responsible for the policy, guidance and authorities that underpin the acquisition of services, international procurements, and the contracting mission in response to humanitarian, disaster and contingency operations.
Ms. Robinson previously served as the Department of the Air Force, Deputy Program Executive Officer for Combat and Mission Support, Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Acquisition, Technology and Logistics. She oversaw a portfolio of more than $164 billion in existing and planned services contracts across the department. Ms. Robinson provided acquisition oversight and policy for the department services spend, ensuring the deployment of proper management controls for services acquisitions.
Ms. Robinson joined the federal government as a Governmentwide Acquisition Management Intern with the Department of the Interior in 2002. She has supported several federal government departments and agencies, to include the Office of the Secretary of Defense, the Air Force District of Washington, the Joint Strike Fighter Program Office, the Missile Defense Agency, the U.S. Customs Service, the National Institutes of Health, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
EDUCATION
2000 Bachelor of Arts, Government and Economics, University of Notre Dame, South Bend, Ind.
2002 Master of Arts, American Government, Georgetown University, Washington, D.C.
2008 Master of Public Administration, The George Washington University, Washington, D.C.
2016, Air War College, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala., by correspondence
2018 Master of National Security and Resource Strategy, Senior Acquisition Course, Eisenhower School for National Security and Resource Strategy, National Defense University, Fort Lesley J. McNair, Washington, D.C.
CAREER CHRONOLOGY
1. June 2002–June 2004, Contract Specialist, Department of Interior Government wide Acquisition Management Internship Program, Washington, D.C.
2. June 2004–May 2010, Contracting Officer and Team Lead, Missile Defense Agency, Arlington, Va.
3. May 2010–June 2011, Supervisory Contracting Officer, Joint Strike Fighter Program, Arlington, Va.
4. June 2011–November 2013, Chief, Contract Policy and Strategic Sourcing, Air Force District of Washington, Joint Base Andrews, Md.
6. November 2013–October 2015, Procurement Analyst, Team Lead and Deputy Chief, Contracting Operations Division, Headquarters Air Force Contracting, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va.
7. November 2015–August 2017, Deputy, Contracting Operations Division, Secretary of the Air Force, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va.
8. August 2017–June 2018, Student, Eisenhower School of National Security and Resource Strategy, National Defense University, Fort Lesley J. McNair, Washington, D.C.
9. July 2018–April 2020, Deputy Director, Contracting, Air Force District of Washington, Joint Base Andrews, Md.
10. April 2020–January 2023, Deputy Program Executive Officer for Services, Office of the Secretary of the Air Force for Acquisition, Technology, and Logistics, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va.
11. January 2023–January 2025, Director, Contract Policy, Office of the Undersecretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va.
12. January 2025–present, Associate, Deputy Assistant Secretary (Contracting), Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Acquisition, Technology and Logistics, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va.
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Exemplary Civilian Service Medal
PROFESSIONAL CERTIFICATIONS
2006 Contracting, Level III
2011 Certified Federal Contracts Manager, National Contract Management Association
2012 Certified Professional Contracts Manager, National Contract Management Association
2021 Program Management, Advanced
(Current as of February 2025)