Get to Know NSTXL: Featuring JaNay Mills 

June 16, 2021

A Company is only as strong as the team behind it. In a rapidly expanding industry like our own, it’s crucial that we have unique, innovative, and creative team members at our helm.

To showcase our incredible staff and share their unique perspectives on the industry, we’re rolling out the Get to Know NSTXL series. In each post, we’ll be highlighting different employees as they share more about their experience, past projects, insight into the industry, and more. Follow us on LinkedIn to see when new posts in the series are live.

For the first Get to Know NSXTL feature, we spoke with our very own Acquisition Manager, JaNay Mills.

With more than 10 years of experience in acquisition services from both government and industry, on top of six years as a Commissioned Officer in the U.S. Army, Mills is a seasoned industry expert and skilled asset on the team. Mills currently focuses on the SpEC program and played an integral role in the program’s transition to NSTXL back in January.

Learn more about her work at NSTXL, favorite projects, and what she wishes more people knew about defense contracting.

Tell us more about your background and what led you to NSTXL.

I’m a graduate of the University of Cincinnati where I earned a Bachelor of Science in Biology and Webster University where I earned a Master of Arts in Procurement and Acquisition Management.

What led me to NSTXL was the opportunity to take a non-traditional approach to Government contracts within an organization that fosters creativity. I even get to have periodic “Dream Storm” sessions with my supervisor where we brainstorm ideas, acquisition approaches, and tools to streamline our internal and external processes.

In my downtime, I enjoy traveling with friends and family. Often opting for locations off the beaten path in southeastern Asia.

About Your Role: Please share more about your role with NSTXL, goals, vision, and how it relates to government/industry as relevant.

As an Acquisition Manager with NSTXL, I’ve had the pleasure and challenge of working on all of our active OTA’s. I’ve gained insight into the varying and unique internal challenges faced by different government agencies as they employ new or seasoned OT teams. My goal while working with government clients is to formulate clear and concise prototype solicitations that minimize barriers to entry for our non-traditional defense contractor membership base. I envision a persistent and transparent feedback environment between our government clients, NSTXL, and our membership base that truly leverages commercial business practices and removes barriers.

What is your favorite part about working at NSTXL?

The ability to enact change by developing new processes and procedures without layers of internal bureaucracy.

What is the most exciting project or success you have seen in your role?

The most exciting part of my role is seeing our government clients transition from their position of comfort with FAR contracts. Watching them go from being hesitant about OT’s, to developing a level of comfort and utility with what they have to offer and finally accelerating technology to the Warfighter is incredible!

What is something you wish more people knew in the industry?

I wish more non-traditional defense contractors were aware of the opportunities afforded to them with Other Transaction Agreements.

Despite the chaos of the day, I will always pause to have a conversation with a non-traditional defense contractor to understand the specifics behind the various obstacles that prevent them from priming or participating as a major subcontractor on one of our opportunities.

Whether it’s a particular solicitation clause or requirement that’s causing a barrier, it becomes a personal and professional task of mine to work with my government clients to rethink, revise and resolicit our approach to an opportunity in a way that maximizes NTDC participation.

What is something unique that you feel makes NSTXL unique?

NSTXL has held true to its philosophy of, “combining the best practices of the tech industry with our expertise in government contracting to create a space where government and industry work together with speed, flexibility, and reduced risk.” Our internal and external processes are built to support the flexible and accelerated nature inherent to OT’s.

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