An official website of the United States government
Here's how you know
A .mil website belongs to an official U.S. Department of Defense organization in the United States.
A lock (lock ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .mil website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

News | Feb. 1, 2023

Employee Spotlight: Takerra Haugen

DLA Aviation Public Affairs Office

Employee spotlight regularly features outstanding non-supervisory personnel from throughout the Defense Logistics Agency Aviation and other DLA employees on Defense Supply Center Richmond, Virginia. Organizational directors may submit names of employees they wish to feature in this column to DLA Aviation Public Affairs.

Name: Takerra Haugen

Organization/Directorate/Division: DLA Aviation’s Supplier Operations Commodities Directorate’s Post-Award Division (Supplier Facing)

How long have you worked for DLA: 2 years

What is your job title: I’m a contract specialist

Describe your job in a sentence or two. As a post-award contract specialist, I engage and collaborate with suppliers and internal personnel to assist with getting material to the warfighters. This is done by tackling delinquencies, managing contracts by resolving various types of payment issues and discrepancies, and administering modifications on purchase orders and contracts to fulfill and support the warfighters needs.

What do you like most about your job and why? As a prior educator, it’s ingrained in me to learn and teach new skills. What I like most about my job is that I am still able to apply these actions to my everyday functions as a contract specialist. When I encounter a new issue or unknown process, I dive into the research and utilize what I have learned to work toward finding a solution. In turn, I am then able to help other administrators by sharing the knowledge I’ve acquired to assist with similar issues.

What is your fondest memory of working for DLA Aviation? My fondest memory so far was attending our division tailgate party! This was my first DLA Aviation event I attended that had a great atmosphere with music, food, and games. When I joined DLA, it was through the thick of COVID where I primarily corresponded with my peers via email and Microsoft Teams. At the tailgate party, it was wonderful to meet other teammates and coworkers in person and see some familiar faces as well.

What are your best practices for achieving goals or accomplishing tasks? Contracting is a very demanding field, so I find it best to be prepared as much as you can. Organizing my tasks out for the day/week and prioritizing what actions need immediate attention helps me to be proactive in processing my workload timely and efficiently.

Professionally, where do you see yourself five years from now? In five years, I see myself either in a training capacity helping new hires learn the world of post award and its functions or in a supervisory role.

What are some of your passions outside of work? My passions outside work include raising my loving, adventurous daughter; spending time with friends and family; traveling; playing volleyball, and baking and decorating cookies.