The Contracting Experience - Episode 80: Navigating Change: The vision of AFMC’s new Director of Contracting, Tony Everidge

In this episode of The Contracting Experience, host Jamie Parks is joined by Tony Everidge, the new Director of Contracting for Air Force Materiel Command. Everidge discusses his journey from starting as a Contract Specialist in 1986 to leading a 4,200-person workforce managing a nearly $70 billion portfolio ($90B in FAR-based contracts and $3.23B in non-FAR awards as of end of fiscal year 2026). He shares insights from his diverse career, including experiences in research and development, installation support, and joint service programs, emphasizing how these roles have shaped his holistic view of the AFMC enterprise and the importance of collaboration.

Everidge delves into his vision for AFMC contracting, which is to be an "acquisition wingman" that creates value and accelerates mission execution. He highlights the critical influence of working with agile organizations like DARPA, which taught him to innovate and rethink risk, lessons he believes can be applied within the more structured Air Force environment. Throughout the conversation, he stresses that the core of quality contracting remains unchanged: delivering the right capability to the warfighter at the right time at a fair price, from initial requirement definition to final delivery.

Looking forward, Everidge identifies workforce development as his top priority, outlining strategies for proactive talent management to train and retain a versatile and experienced contracting corps. He offers advice for new professionals, encouraging them to embrace diverse experiences and learn from every opportunity. Everidge concludes with an optimistic outlook, expressing his profound confidence in the dedication and resilience of the AFMC contracting workforce to meet future challenges and deliver for the mission.

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