Sacramento District’s Sgt. 1st Class Derrick Wade, Contract Specialist and Non-commissioned officer in charge plus team lead, has left a void in the Contracting Division at the Afghanistan District.
He arrived at Bagram Airfield on April 17, 2018 and hit the ground running. His Army Military Occupation Specialty 51Charlie trained him in the world of contracting and he brought with him the goods to perform his task outstandingly.
His steadfast work ethic and down home personality earned him much respect and admiration in theater. For all of his efforts he was awarded the Army Commendation Medal.
That award citation read in part, “For exceptional service as a member of the contracting division, Bagram Air Field Office, Transatlantic Afghanistan District, USACE, in support of Operation Freedom’s Sentinel. Wade’s Can-Do attitude and work ethic provided critical support to the USACE Contracting mission and personnel.”
Just shy of a year with the U. S. Army Corps of Engineers, when he received the call from the Deputy of the Workforce Development Division requesting he deploy, due to his qualifications and contingency operation expertise as a contracting professional, there was no hesitation. Since being with USACE he has a vast background in working on DAM and Levee programs.
When asked if he had a message for those planning to deploy, he said, “Be flexible, come in with an open mind and set goals to accomplish while you are here.”
This Pensacola High School graduate who went on to earn a BS, and MS in Business Management and Human Resource Management supported the Afghanistan District with huge missions such as the Police Town Phase II and the Northeast and Southeast Electrical Systems (NEPS/SEPS).
Wade credits his grandmother Willie Mae Williams for her support in becoming the person he is now, as he sticks with his motto of Support and Defend.