JOINT BASE PEARL HARBOR-HICKAM, Hawaii -- Over 200 participants gathered in Tinian and Saipan over a period of two days last week for an Industry Day event hosted by Naval Facilities Engineering Systems Command and organized and supported by Pacific Air Forces.
The Industry Day event was designed to provide information about upcoming procurement opportunities to potential vendors, suppliers, and subcontractors. The goals of Industry Day were to encourage competition, promote transparency in the contracting process, gather feedback from potential vendors, and share best practices in the enterprise. This event fostered collaboration among the private sector and Joint Force with an aim to improve the quality of products, processes, services, and opportunities.
With Agile Combat Employment at the forefront of exercises and engagements, PACAF recognizes the value of having a robust business economy from as many dispersed locations as possible. A healthy commercial sector can help achieve its goal of restoring military readiness. It can also help close gaps in meeting requirements for maintenance, material, and critical services.
“Investing in a full-time Small Business Program Director underscore how important PACAF sees the opportunity,” said Ailie Souriolle, PACAF Small Business Program Director. “Small businesses can help increase competition in the U.S. economy, which can help the nation avoid supply chain vulnerabilities.”
“Small businesses have proven time and time again that they have the ability to adapt quickly to new security environments, which helps the DoD transform its defense industrial base in this theater,” Souriolle concluded.
Glenna Palacios is a contractor hired by HQ PACAF to be a key player in bridging public and private partnerships in the Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas Islands (CMNI). She constantly explores opportunities that are mutually beneficial to the local communities and the United States Air Force.
“As allies and partners, I know the CNMI and the United States Air Force can both grow stronger by developing these relationships through the commercial sector and key public collaboration,” said Palacios.
Underscoring the importance of partnership, the Governor of the CNMI, Gov. Arnold I. Palacios, praised the efforts and asked for continued outreach and pledged his support.
“We are a Defense community. Whether or not we acknowledge that, we are a Defense community, especially in this part of the world,” said Palacios.