MOODY AIR FORCE BASE, Ga. -- The 23d Contracting Squadron (CONS) hosted U.S. Air Force Col. Christopher Jones, Air Combat Command (ACC) director of contracting, and his delegation for an official visit May 5-6, 2026, highlighting how strategic acquisitions at Moody directly support combat operations.
The visit focused on demonstrating how the 23d CONS enables the missions of the 23d Wing and 93d Air Ground Operations Wing through innovative contracting solutions and mission-focused partnerships.
“Our Airmen are the link to commercial support of the Air Force’s combat capability,” said U.S. Air Force Maj. James Barrett, 23d Contracting Squadron commander. “Every acquisition that we execute supports the warfighter. We are stewards of the taxpayer dollars and use that money as a weapon system. This visit is an opportunity to better integrate acquisition into the battlefield.”
During the two-day visit, the team observed a range of mission capabilities supported by the squadron, including the showcase of an Airmen-developed artificial intelligence (AI) contracting tool designed to streamline acquisition processes and improve efficiency. The tool reflects ongoing efforts by Moody Airmen to accelerate innovation and enhance operational readiness.
“We built this tool with the goal of aligning our acquisition process with our efficient warfighting capability,” said U.S. Air Force 1st Lt. Nasir Smith, 23d Contracting Squadron Services and Commodities Flight officer in charge. “By optimizing our acquisition processes through Artificial Intelligence, we can deliver critical resources to our mission partners to speed lethality, strengthen our nation’s economy through military and commercial relationships and drive the next generation of innovation and acquisition warfighting professionals across the Force.”
Following the demonstration, Jones engaged with the development team, asking questions about implementation, scalability and how the tool could be adapted for use across other contracting units.
“What impressed me most is the initiative of these Airmen,” Jones said. “They’re not waiting for change, they’re driving it. Solutions like this have the potential to improve how we operate across the entire force.”
The delegation toured the 820th Base Defense Group (BDG), where leaders highlighted a recently completed $221,000 sensitive compartmented information facility (SCIF) modernization project. The upgrade enhances secure communications and operational planning capabilities for the unit, reinforcing the installation’s ability to support agile combat operations.
An upgrade to the Joint Worldwide Intelligence Communications System (JWICS) secured the BDG’s top secret intelligence analysis capabilities and was directly credited with saving lives during combat operations in the past year.
“This modernization directly strengthens our ability to plan and execute missions securely,” said U.S. Air Force Col. Megan Hall, 820th BDG commander. “Having an updated SCIF ensures our defenders can operate with the speed, precision and protection required in today’s threat environment.”
The visit concluded with a squadron all call, where Jones presented the 23d CONS with a unit trophy recognizing its performance and contributions to the command. He also recognized outstanding Airmen with commander’s coins for their achievements.
“This squadron sets the standard for excellence,” Jones said. “Their ability to innovate while delivering consistent, mission-focused results is exactly what we need across Air Combat Command.”
ACC’s contracting directorate provides on-site contracting staff support, acquisition oversight and policy guidance for a $3 billion portfolio executed across 14 operational contracting squadrons. The organization also advises the ACC commander and develops the next generation of Air Force contracting professionals.
“Our role is to connect strategy to execution,” said U.S. Air Force Senior Master Sgt. Ryan Ledford, Air Force Installation Contracting Center (AFICC/KC) functional area manager. “Visits like this allow us to see firsthand how contracting professionals are enabling the mission at the tactical level and identify ways to scale that success across the enterprise.”
Through strategic sourcing, innovation and close collaboration with mission partners, the 23d CONS continues to play a critical role in ensuring warfighters at Moody Air Force Base remain equipped, ready and lethal.