64P2 Career Guide
64P2: Contracting Specialist
Career transition guide for Air Force Contracting Specialist (64P2)
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Top civilian roles for 64P2 veterans, with average salary and market demand data.
Contract Specialist
Procurement Manager
Compliance Officer
Skills to develop:
Logistics Manager
Skills to develop:
Project Manager
Skills to develop:
Salary estimates from VWC career data
Hidden Strengths
Cognitive skills your 64P2 training built — and where they transfer.
Resource Optimization
As a contracting officer, you're constantly balancing mission needs with budgetary constraints. You analyze market trends, evaluate proposals, and negotiate contracts to secure the best value for the Air Force while ensuring critical resources are available.
This translates directly to optimizing resource allocation in any business environment. You can identify cost-saving opportunities, negotiate favorable terms with vendors, and ensure efficient use of resources to maximize profitability.
Procedural Compliance
Your role demands meticulous adherence to complex regulations, directives, laws, and contracting policies. You ensure all contracting activities are compliant, documented, and auditable, minimizing risk and maintaining transparency.
This expertise is highly valuable in industries with strict regulatory requirements. You can ensure compliance with industry standards, implement internal controls, and mitigate legal and financial risks.
Adversarial Thinking
Contracting involves navigating negotiations, mediating protests, and resolving disputes. You anticipate potential challenges, identify vulnerabilities, and develop strategies to protect the Air Force's interests and ensure fair outcomes.
This skill allows you to excel in competitive business environments. You can identify potential threats, negotiate effectively, and develop strategies to outmaneuver competitors and achieve business objectives.
Situational Awareness
Whether in garrison or deployed, you maintain a constant awareness of the operational environment, market dynamics, and contractor performance. You adapt your contracting strategies to meet evolving mission requirements and mitigate potential disruptions.
Your ability to maintain a broad perspective and adapt to changing circumstances is crucial for effective decision-making in any organization. You can anticipate challenges, identify opportunities, and adjust strategies to achieve optimal results.
Non-Obvious Career Matches
Fraud Investigator
SOC 13-1199.04You've been meticulously reviewing documents, analyzing data, and assessing contractor compliance for years. Your expertise in identifying discrepancies and ensuring adherence to regulations makes you a natural fit for uncovering and investigating fraudulent activities within an organization.
Compliance Officer
SOC 13-1041.00You've been ensuring compliance with contracting regulations and policies throughout your military career. Your attention to detail and understanding of legal and regulatory frameworks will enable you to develop and implement compliance programs, conduct audits, and mitigate risks for companies in highly regulated industries.
Supply Chain Analyst
SOC 13-1151.00You've been managing the flow of goods and services to support Air Force operations. Your experience in sourcing, negotiating, and managing contracts will enable you to optimize supply chain performance, reduce costs, and ensure timely delivery of critical resources for civilian companies.
Training & Education Equivalencies
Contracting Apprentice Course, Lackland Air Force Base, TX
Topics Covered
- •Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) and Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement (DFARS)
- •Contract Types (Firm-Fixed Price, Cost-Reimbursement, etc.)
- •Source Selection Procedures
- •Contract Administration and Termination
- •Cost and Price Analysis
- •Negotiation Techniques
- •Contingency Contracting
- •Small Business Programs
Certification Pathways
Partial Coverage
Focus on specific civilian procurement regulations, commercial contract law, and industry best practices not covered in military contracting.
Update on the latest changes to the FAR (Federal Acquisition Regulation) and any recent court cases impacting federal contracting. Review specific reporting requirements for civilian agencies.
Study the PMBOK guide, focusing on areas like stakeholder management, risk management, and communications management within a project-based context. Learn different project lifecycle methodologies (Agile, Waterfall, etc.).
Recommended Next Certifications
Technical Systems Translation
Military systems you've used and their civilian equivalents for your resume.
| Military System | Civilian Equivalent |
|---|---|
| Automated Business Services System (ABSS) | Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems like SAP or Oracle Financials |
| Contract Writing System (ConWrite) | Contract Lifecycle Management (CLM) software such as Coupa or Agiloft |
| Federal Procurement Data System - Next Generation (FPDS-NG) | Market research and spend analysis tools like Spend Matters or GovWin IQ |
| Wide Area WorkFlow (WAWF, now PIEE - Procurement Integrated Enterprise Environment) | E-invoicing and vendor payment platforms such as Tungsten Network or Taulia |
| Government Purchase Card (GPC) SmartPay | Corporate credit card programs and expense management systems like Concur or Expensify |
| Defense Contract Audit Agency (DCAA) Audit Tools & Procedures | Internal audit and compliance software (e.g., ACL, TeamMate) and forensic accounting techniques |
| Joint Contingency Contracting System (JCCS) | Supply chain risk management and disaster recovery planning software |
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