SCAPR welcomes Natalie Riedel for our May Luncheon. Natalie R. Riedel, a member of the Senior Executive Service,
is the Director of Contracting, Space Systems Command, Los Angeles Air Force Base (LAAFB), California.

Details

Date: Wednesday, August 14th, 2024

Location: Embassy Suites El Segundo (1440 E Imperial Ave, El Segundo, CA 90245)

Agenda:

• 11:30 Networking
• 12:00 Lunch
• 12:30 Speaker
• 13:00 Adjourn

As always, members are free with RSVP. Guests of members can be purchased on the website for $40.  Please RSVP no later than 1pm on 4/29.

Speaker Biography

Natalie R. Riedel, a member of the Senior Executive Service, is the Director of Contracting, Space Systems Command,
Los Angeles Air Force Base (LAAFB), California. She advises 5 Program Executive Officers for Space Programs on acquisition strategy, contract execution, and contracting policy and procedures. Ms. Riedel is responsible for more than 600 contracts valued at $72 billion and the career development and training for more than 320 military and civilian contracting professionals.

Ms. Riedel began her Air Force career in May 2003 after graduating from the United States Air Force Academy with a Bachelor of Science in Business Management. During her four-year Air Force career, she was responsible for a broad range of contracting activities including negotiating and administering multi-million dollar efforts, interpreting acquisition policy and regulations governing DoD procurements, and advising the program manager on key decisions by translating complex requirements into executable and sustainable contracting strategies.

She separated from active duty with the rank of Captain in 2007 and continued working for Air Force Space Command
(AFSPC) as a support contractor with MCR Federal. She began her career in civil service in 2011 as the Contracting
Officer in Charge of the Enhanced Polar System (EPS) Control and Planning Segment (CAPS) Source Selection in the
Military Satellite Communications (MILSATCOM) Directorate at LAAFB. She then moved to the Advanced Extremely High
Frequency (AEHF) program where she was the Contracting Officer responsible for a suite of contracts valued at over
$10B. Following her time in MILSATCOM, Natalie was promoted to the position of Deputy Chief of Contracting for the
Space Superiority Systems Directorate. She was then promoted to serve as the Chief of Contracting Office (COCO), Air
Force Rapid Capabilities Office (AFRCO) at Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling (JBAB), Washington D.C. In this position, she
managed four Divisions and was responsible for a diverse portfolio of contracts including multiple ACAT equivalent
programs. She has held an unlimited warrant as a Procurement Contracting Officer since 2011. She also holds an
Acquisition Professional Development Program Level III Contracting Management certification and Level I Program
Management certification.

EDUCATION

2003 Bachelor of Science in Management, United States Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, Colo.
2007 Master of Business Administration, Pepperdine University, Malibu, Calif.
2007 Process Improvement Course; Graham School of Business, Chicago, Ill.
2010 Intermediate Systems Acquisition, Defense Acquisition University, Correspondence
2014 Secretary of the Air Force/Acquisition, Contracting Mid-Level Development Program
2019 Senior Developmental Education, Leading Strategically
2019 Air War College, Correspondence

ASSIGNMENTS

1. 2003 – 2007, Contract Negotiator, Global Positioning Systems Wing, LAAFB
2. 2008 – 2011, Contract Specialist, MCR Federal, Los Angeles, Calif.
3. 2011 – 2014, Contracting Officer, Military Satellite Communications Systems Directorate, LAAFB
4. 2014 – 2016, Deputy Chief of Contracting Office, Space Superiority Systems Directorate, LAAFB
5. 2016 – 2021, Chief of Contracting Office, Air Force Rapid Capabilities Office, JBAB
6. 2021 – Present, Director of Contracting, Space Systems Command, LAAFB

MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS

Air Force Commendation Medal
Air Force Exemplary Civilian Service Medal
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
National Defense Service Medal
Air Force Organizational Excellence Award

OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS

2005 C&I General Edwin W. Rawlings Team Award
2010 Military Satellite Communication Directorate Contractor of the Quarter
2013 MILSATCOM Systems Directorate Civilian Cat II (Supervisory) of the Quarter
2013 Space and Missile Systems Center Civilian (Supervisory Cat II) of the Year
2013 Space and Missile Systems Center Outstanding Contracting Civilian
2014 Department of Defense David Packard Excellence in Acquisition Award
2015 Excellence in Classified Contracting (Larry Kabase Memorial Award – Team)
2017 Outstanding Systems Contracting Unit Award
2017 Excellence in Classified Contracting (Larry Kabase Memorial Award – Team)
2019 Excellence in Classified Contracting (Larry Kabase Memorial Award – Team)
2020 Outstanding Systems Contracting Unit Award
2020 Outstanding Systems Contracting (Supervisory) Award

(CURRENT AS OF SEPTEMBER 2023)