Master Sgt. Bongard is the senior enlisted leader, 42nd Contracting Squadron, Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama. As the senior enlisted leader, she is responsible for leading, managing, and developing 55 contracting professionals, which guarantee the execution of more than $160M in annual operational contracting support for Air University, 42nd Air Base Wing and its 45 mission partners. Master Sgt. Bongard serves as the principal advisor to the commander and director of business operations on all enlisted issues and provides mentorship and training to all personnel providing contract support to Air University. She also ensures the morale, welfare, and personal needs of the squadron members and their families are met to provide senior Air Force leadership with a 100% deployable force.
Master Sgt. Bongard joined the Air Force in 2009. After completion of Basic Military Training, she attended Contracting Technical Training at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas. Throughout her career, she has filled a myriad of roles to include contracting officer, additional duty first sergeant, executive assistant and section chief. She has deployed in support of Operations Enduring Freedom, Inherent Resolve, Freedom’s Sentinel, and Spartan Shield, and served overseas tours in Turkey, Germany, and Japan.
EDUCATION:
2014 Associates in Contracts Management, Community College of the Air Force, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala.
2014 Airman Leadership School, Kapaun Air Station, Germany
2014 Bachelor Degree of Science in Contracts Management, Trident University International, Cypress, Calif.
2017 Course 15, Noncommissioned Officer Academy, by correspondence
2018 Noncommissioned Officer Academy, McGhee-Tyson Air National Guard Base, Tenn.
2020 Senior Enlisted Joint Professional Military Education I, by correspondence
ASSIGNMENTS:
January 2010 – February 2013, Contracting Specialist and Contracts Administrator, 354th Contracting Squadron, Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska
February 2013 – May 2014, Contracts Administrator, 39th Contracting Squadron, Incirlik Air Base, Turkey
May 2014 – July 2015, Contracting Specialist and Contracting Officer, Commodities Flight, 700th Contracting Squadron, Kapaun Air Station, Germany
July 2015 – June 2016, Contingency Contracting Officer, 379th Expeditionary Contracting Squadron, Al Udeid AB Qatar
June 2016 – October 2017, Noncommissioned Officer in Charge, Commodities Flight, and Contracting Officer, 374th Contracting Squadron, Yokota AB, Japan
October 2017 – June 2018, NCOIC, Army Support Flight, and Contracting Officer, Army Services, 374th Contracting Squadron, Yokota AB, Japan
June 2018 – November 2019, NCOIC, Commodities, 42nd Contracting Squadron, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
November 2019 – January 2021, Senior Enlisted Leader and Contingency Contracting Officer, 378th Expeditionary Contracting Squadron, Prince Sultan AB, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
January 2021 – August 2021, NCOIC, Construction Flight, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
August 2021 – August 2022, Executive Assistant to the 42nd Air Base Wing Command Chief, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
August 2022 – April 2023, Section Chief, Services Flight, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
April 2023 – present, Senior Enlisted Leader, 42nd Contracting Squadron, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS:
Air Force Commendation Medal and three oak leaf clusters
Air Force Achievement Medal and two oak leaf clusters
2013 United States Air Force in Europe and Air Forces Africa Small Contracting Outstanding Unit
2017 Pacific Air Forces Large Contracting Meritorious Unit Award
2018 Pacific Air Forces Large Contracting Outstanding Unit Award
2020 Meritorious Unit Award – 378th Air Expeditionary Wing
Meritorious Service Medal
2011 354th Fighter Wing Airman of the Third Quarter
2011 354th Fighter Wing Airman of the Fourth Quarter
2011, 354th Fighter Wing Airman of the Year
2013 39th Mission Support Group Volunteer of the Year,
2016 374th Contracting Squadron Noncommissioned Officer of the Year
2016 374th Contingency Contracting Officer of the Year
2018 42nd Air Base Wing Volunteer of the Year
2020 42nd Contracting Squadron, Noncommissioned Officer of the Third Quarter
2020 42nd Air Base Ronald L. King Award
2021, 42nd Contracting Squadron, Noncommissioned Officer of the First Quarter
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION:
Airman July 7, 2009
Airman First Class May 7, 2011
Senior Airman Jan. 7, 2012
Staff Sergeant Dec. 1, 2014
Technical Sergeant May 1, 2018
Master Sergeant Dec. 1, 2022
(Current as of July 23, 2023)