HANSCOM AIR FORCE BASE, Mass. - Katherine "Katie" Jeffery, a Hanscom Air Force Base cost analyst, accepted the Business Cost Estimating Individual Achievement Award presented at the Defense Acquisition Awards ceremony Dec. 11.
Jeffery is the program office cost lead for the Electronic Systems Directorate’s Theater Battle Control Division Long Range Radar Branch.
“It was a tremendous honor to be recognized alongside so many outstanding acquisition professionals who have provided critical capabilities to the warfighter,” Jeffery said. “I am humbled to accept this award on behalf of a larger team who do amazing work that I get to represent.”
A nomination package for the award noted that Jeffery was recognized for partnering with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Lincoln Laboratory to refine program cost estimates and lead funding drills for the division. She also teamed with Air Combat Command and the director for Information Dominance Programs, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Acquisition, Technology and Logistics to develop strategic messaging and program objective memorandums.
“Ms. Jeffery is the poster child for grace under pressure,” Karen Mungal, division cost chief, Theater Battle Control Division, said. “Her dedication to her job, her teammates and the division radiates through her personality and her work ethic. Having her receive recognition at the highest echelon within the Department of Defense stands as a beacon to her well-deserved accomplishments.”
Jeffery’s supervisor continued to say, “As a cost analyst at Hanscom AFB, Katie’s leadership and recognition should be what other cost analysts aspire to as an attainable goal. As a result of Katie’s dogged determination, the program continued to provide multiple courses of action ensuring service acquisition executives are aware of the program status ensuring informed decision making.”
Jeffery is a 2009 magna cum laude graduate of Merrimack College in North Andover, Mass., earning a Bachelor of Arts in mathematics. She began her work at Hanscom Air Force Base in January 2011 as a junior cost analyst for Tecolote Research, Inc. She supported several programs in the Space, Aerial & Nuclear Networks Division and Aerial Surveillance Radars Branch of the Theater Battle Control Division, providing cost analysis to support decision making, budget requests and proposal evaluations.
She began her civil service career with the Air Force in September 2018, supporting the Three Dimensional Expeditionary Long Range Radar program. She graduated with distinction from the Naval Postgraduate School with a master’s degree in cost estimating and analysis in March 2021.
Team Hanscom was nominated for two additional awards in this year’s cycle. Capt. Nicholas Blessing, acquisition program manager for Kessel Run, received a nomination for an individual award, and Theater Battle Control Division was nominated for the David Packard Excellence in Acquisition Award.
The Defense Acquisition Awards represent the U.S. Air Force, U.S. Army, U.S. Navy, defense agencies and field activities. Jeffery, along with other award winners for this year, were honored during a ceremony at the Defense Acquisition University in Fort Belvoir, Virginia.
The Defense Acquisition Awards present five annual awards representing 23 separate categories, recognizing individual and team accomplishments that advance the national defense strategy and support the Department of Defense priorities through excellence in acquisition.