2026 Acquisition Excellence Awards Recipients
Andrew J. Higgins Award for Acquisition Innovation and Excellence
LtCol Jesse D. Hume
Lieutenant Colonel (LtCol) Hume reported to Officer Candidates School in June 2010 earning his commission in August. After completing The Basic School in March 2011, he proceeded to Fort Sill, Oklahoma to the Field Artillery Officer Basic Course where he graduated in August 2011 and received orders to 2d Battalion, 10th Marines. Upon reporting to 2d Battalion, 10th Marines in August 2011, LtCol Hume immediately attached to Regimental Combat Team 6. In December 2011, Lieutenant Colonel Hume was deployed to Afghanistan in support of Operation ENDURING FREEDOM serving as the Assistant Fire Support Coordinator. In November 2012, he returned to 2d Battalion, 10th Marines serving as a Fire Support Officer with HQ Battery, Platoon Commander with Battery E and Battery L, and Battery Executive Officer with Battery G. From August 2014 to July 2017, he served as a Project Officer supporting the Forward Observer and Joint Terminal Attack Controller suite of gear. In August 2017, LtCol Hume reported to Expeditionary Warfare School. Upon graduating, he served as a 2018 summer augment at OCS in the role of Platoon Commander for the 10-week commissioning class. In August 2018, he served as the Assistant Battalion Logistics Officer. In January 2019, LtCol Hume took command of Battery F and deployed with Battalion Landing Team 2/8, 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit. LtCol Hume checked into the Marine Corps Warfighting Laboratory on 1 October 2020 where he served as the II MEF Concept Development Team Lead focused on Naval Integrated Fires and the Infantry Battalion Experimentation lines of effort. In August of 2022, he served as the Organic Precision Fires Team Lead until June 2026. In June of 2026, LtCol Hume assumed his current role as the Product Manager for Fire Support Systems. LtCol Hume graduated from Stonehill College, North Easton, Massachusetts, in May 2004 with a degree in Business Administration with a concentration in Marketing. LtCol Hume has been awarded the Meritorious Service Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medals, Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medals, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, NATO Medal – ISAF Afghanistan, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal and Sea Service Deployment Ribbons. He is married to Mrs. Kristin N. Hume and they have three daughters: Clara (9), Willa (7), and Etta (5).
Eugene M. Stoner Award for Acquisition Innovation and Excellence
MGySgt Andrew T. Dorf
Master Gunnery Sergeant (MGySgt) Dorf currently serves as the Battalion Operations Chief at 6th Engineer Support Battalion, 4th MLG, Marine Forces Reserves. He began his military service in 2005, when he enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps. He attended Recruit Training at Marine Corps Recruit Depot, San Diego, California, Marine Combat Training aboard Camp Pendleton, California and Basic Combat Engineer training in Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. Upon completion of Military Occupational Specialty school, MGySgt Dorf was assigned to First Combat Engineer Battalion, Camp Pendleton, California where he served as a rifleman, team leader, squad leader, platoon guide and Sapper instructor. He deployed with BLT 2/4, 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) in support of Iraqi Freedom, BLT 2/5, 15th MEU, and to Afghanistan in support of ISAF. In 2011, he reported to Instructor Battalion, The Basic School, Quantico, Virginia and served as a combat engineer instructor, senior instructor, dugout instructor and bullpen chief. In 2013, he reported to the Marine Wing Support Squadron 372, III MAW, Camp Pendleton, California and served as the Platoon Sergeant for the Combat Engineer platoon, Engineer Company. In 2015, MGySgt Dorf reported to the Marine Corps Engineer School and served as a demolition instructor, and Academic Programmer. In 2018, he reported to 6th Engineer Support Battalion, Portland, Oregon and served as the Battalion Training Chief. In 2022, MGySgt Dorf served as a Project Officer, Explosive Hazard Defeat for Combat Service Support. He has been awarded the Meritorious Service Medal with one gold star, Navy Commendation with Valor and two gold stars, Navy Achievement Medal with one gold star and the Combat Action Ribbon.
Donald Roebling Award for Acquisition Innovation and Excellence
Timothy P. Sheranko
Mr. Timothy Sheranko is a consummate professional within the cyber and acquisition workforce who is recognized by senior leaders across multiple commands as a subject matter expert who can distill highly technical concepts into clear, actionable guidance. Mr. Sheranko served as a Systems Planning, Research, and Engineering Program Systems Engineer and the Lead Engineer for Product Manager Marine Corps Cyberspace Operations. As the lead engineer for the only Acquisition Command in direct support of an operational commander, he has made significant and lasting contributions to the Marine Corps defensive cyber capabilities, directly enhancing the security and operational effectiveness of the Marine Corps Cyberspace Environment. His leadership and technical acumen have been instrumental in fielding and sustaining systems that empower Marines to dominate in the cyberspace domain. Mr. Sheranko’s contributions have had a direct and measurable impact on the capabilities of the operating forces. He served as the sole engineer for two highly complex and distinct information technology systems—the Defensive Cyber Weapon Systems Family of Systems (FoS) and the Cyber Hunt and Analytic Operating System FoS—a role that should be filled by four engineers in which he has driven monumental improvements for the warfighter. Mr. Sheranko has profoundly enhanced the Marine Corps defensive cyber capabilities through his superior innovation and leadership. He architected a pioneering strategy to embed security throughout the entire software life cycle, enabling the rapid and secure delivery of cyber tools. His technical leadership was pivotal in thwarting a malicious enemy cyberattack, where a system his team developed provided the sole mechanism to analyze critical incident data. He masterfully managed two complex cyber defense and analytics systems, personally driving improvements that increase reliability and effectiveness for warfighters. A dedicated mentor, he sets the standard for professional excellence across the acquisition community. Mr. Sheranko filled various engineering and project management roles as a Government civilian at the Defense Counterintelligence Systems Agency and Defense Information Systems Agency. In his current role he is the Technical Director for the Data Analytic Support Cell within the Department of War Cyber Defense Command. He has a master of business administration and a bachelor of science in management information systems. Mr. Sheranko resides in Maryland with his wife and his two children, Brooke and Connor. In his free time, he enjoys spending time with his family, attending and coaching his kids’ sporting events, and golfing.
Lawrence P. Kreitzer Leadership Award for Acquisition Innovation and Excellence
Steven K. Wynne
Mr. Steven K. Wynne is a Supervisory Contract Specialist at Marine Corps Logistics Command (LOGCOM), Albany, Georgia. In May 2014, Mr. Wynne began his acquisition career through the Naval Acquisition Development Program at Marine Corps Blount Island Command in Jacksonville, Florida, and completed the program in May 2016. He transferred to Marine Corps Logistics Command on June 1, 2016, where he currently serves for the Enterprise Contracting Support Branch. Mr. Wynne leads a team of contract specialists and contract specialist interns providing contracting support across the command. His team supports Marine Forces Storage Command, Supply Chain Management Center, the Consolidated Storage Program, and Marine Depot Maintenance Command operations and management services in support of its Title 10 mission. As a proactive business advisor, Mr. Wynne supports customers throughout the requirements process by reviewing, correcting, and advising on requirements documentation to ensure each requirement is properly developed and accurately addressed. He works directly with customers to resolve issues, helping ensure contracting actions remain proficient and on schedule. Mr. Wynne promotes active communication, collaboration and knowledge sharing within his team and across the contracts department. He is committed to creating a professional environment that provides opportunities for Enterprise Contracting Support Branch personnel and LOGCOM contract specialists to grow and develop. Mr. Wynne also served as an Asset Management Technician with the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation in Jacksonville, Florida, from 2010 to 2014. Born and raised in Durham, North Carolina, Mr. Wynne graduated from Durham Hillside High School in 1984. He began his military career in the U.S. Navy in July 1984and retired in August31, 2005, as a senior chief petty officer after 21 years of service. His Navy assignments included ship serviceman, recruiter, Operations Combat Information Center watch officer, and equal opportunity advisor. Mr. Wynne earned a bachelor of science in management and a master of business administration with a concentration in human resources from the University of Phoenix. He also attended the Navy Insights to Industry Management Course at the University of Virginia Darden School of Business and the Defense Equal Opportunity Management Institute at Patrick Air Force Base, Florida.
Col Richard “Dick” Bates Award for Acquisition Innovation and Excellence
Dr. Karen A. McGrady
Prior to her retirement, Dr. McGrady served as the Marine Corps Systems Command’s (MARCORSYSCOM) Lead for Test and Evaluation (T&E), where she provided expert leadership and strategic direction for all T&E activities supporting United States Marine Corps (USMC) acquisition programs and supported offices. In this position, Dr. McGrady served as the DAWIA Designated Approval Authority (DDAA) and represented MARCORSYSCOM and supported offices to Department of the Navy (DON) T&E and Office of the Secretary of Defense T&E offices. As the senior representative, she contributed to the development of multiple DoD/DON/USMC executive efforts, including the Capabilities-Based Test and Evaluation Implementation Guide, ensuring USMC interests were represented in policies and activities that impacted acquisition programs. Dr. McGrady led the USMC T&E Community of Practice, effectively enhancing and expanding collaboration between various program offices, test personnel, operational test officers, Marine Corps Warfighting Laboratory, and Combat Development and Integration. She had direct impact on programs and T&E personnel through development of comprehensive training curricula available to test personnel, covering multiple areas to assist in developing adequate test events through more rigorous processes. Her leadership and involvement in T&E curriculum development, as well as direct guidance to programs through test plan reviews and direct interaction with program test activities, has led to more thorough and rigorous test processes across MARCORSYSCOM and supported offices. Dr. McGrady successfully led the development and publication of MARCORSYSCOM order MCSCO 5000.4, which provided best practices for the conduct of test readiness reviews to the command’s programs and supported offices. This effort required leading a team in writing, coordinating across program teams, and successfully addressing several hundred comments from program offices to achieve the support and concurrence of all program manager offices in the command and supported offices. This comprehensive guidance now serves all USMC personnel engaged in T&E in support of acquisition. She spearheaded the creation of the Army Test and Evaluation Command (ATEC) -MARCORSYSCOM Synchronization Day, bringing together the Commander of ATEC and the Commanding General of MARCORSYSCOM in a productive and collaborative forum. This effort established direct lines of communication between ATEC and MARCORSYSCOM personnel to ensure USMC T&E needs valued at over 15 million for Army ranges were understood and met, facilitating the resolution of scheduling conflicts and enabling a proactive stance in support of programs. Dr. McGrady developed highest priority needs for MARCORSYSCOM and supported offices based on program test requirements for the Range Enterprise Executive Board, a $2 billion DON-level effort to improve efficiency of investments in T&E infrastructure. She engaged in most meetings as the primary USMC representative alongside MARCORSYSCOM T&E Leads and SES/Flag level personnel from MARCORSYSCOM and Operational Test Agencies. The cross-MARCORSYSCOM expertise acquired through this network continues to provide dividends in capability and training opportunities for MARCORSYSCOM and supported offices T&E and engineering personnel. She represented MARCORSYSCOM and supported offices in the DON Test Advisory Board in policy, workforce, and implementation of acquisition directives, contributing to the generation and completion of Navy directives in T&E of combat and information systems. Dr. McGrady also represented the USMC in all Test Resource Management Center efforts to identify and standardize testing in artificial intelligence and autonomous systems, working with the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory team on behalf of DON in autonomous system testing data acquisition and method development. Her contributions to the development of the Developmental Test and Evaluation of Autonomous Systems Guidebook ensured MARCORSYSCOM and supported offices are prepared to conduct T&E in cutting-edge capability areas. Dr. McGrady collaborated with Special Operations Command on continuing the successful USMC Ghost Rotation in T&E, introducing personnel to innovative approaches and accelerating T&E processes to deliver capability faster. She served as the command point of contact for all T&E-related taskers and Congressional inquiries from organizations such as the Government Accountability Office, Headquarters USMC, Director of Operational Test and Evaluation, and DON. Dr. McGrady was born in Vienna, West Virginia, and called Fredericksburg, Virginia, home. She earned her bachelor’s degree in chemistry from Mary Washington College, followed by her Ph.D. in chemistry from Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU). She spent time as a professor at VCU, the University of Richmond, and Mary Washington College before transitioning to her Federal career with the DON, earning numerous accolades in various research and testing roles over her distinguished career.