PaCER spotlight on Jacob Combs

Jacob Combs, a participant in the Defense Logistics Agency’s Pathways to Career Excellence program with the Contracting Services Office in Columbus, began his PaCE journey in December 2024 and is on track to graduate in December 2026 as a contract specialist. In a recent interview, he described how family roots in public service and early exposure to DLA’s mission drew him to federal acquisition and shaped his approach to the work.

Combs grew up in a household steeped in civil service and military values and said seeing his father build a career at DLA helped him understand the purpose behind the agency’s mission. He set out to finish college debt-free, working full-time in retail management and part-time at a distribution center while taking on freelance jobs. Those frontline roles, he said, honed his customer service instincts, operational sense and team leadership, and reinforced his belief that teams succeed when they tap diverse experiences and skills.

Now in contracting, Combs wants the public to understand how hands-on the job is. “Far from just processing paperwork, we are constantly communicating via phone and email,” he said, noting that specialists work closely with mission partners to refine requirements up front and with industry partners to monitor performance and close out contracts on the back end.

Learning the field’s complexity has been a humbling process, he added. “The most significant challenge I face is reminding myself that mastering the acquisition profession is a marathon, not a sprint.” An important lesson came from retired Air Force Col. Wardrias Little: “Blossom where you are planted.” Combs said that guidance reminds him to focus on mastering current responsibilities—no matter how basic they may seem—and to take on tough tasks others might avoid, building a strong foundation for future growth.

Combs also sees rapid change ahead. “The most transformative trend shaping acquisition is the integration of Artificial Intelligence, specifically tools like GenAI and Loggie,” he said. As those tools mature, he believes they will streamline routine tasks and allow contracting professionals to spend more time on complex analysis, strategic negotiations and decisions that require human judgment.

Asked how he explains his job, Combs is succinct: “In short, I procure the essential products, services and IT solutions that enable United States military forces to operate, defend our nation and protect our citizens globally.” Day to day, that means managing the full “cradle-to-grave” lifecycle—from acquisition planning and market research to solicitation, evaluation, negotiation, award, administration and closeout—while adapting to evolving customer needs, policy updates and shifting personnel.

Combs pointed to a recent information technology procurement as a career milestone. Serving as lead contract specialist on a DLA Information Operations requirement that supported DLA Energy, he said the team, guided by division chief Julie Miller and contracting officers Shaun Bunnell, Tyler Merkle and Mary Finotti, awarded the mission-critical effort ahead of schedule and saved millions of taxpayer dollars.

The PaCE program, he added, is a strong fit for people who are meticulous, organized and adaptable. Contract specialists must change gears constantly across the procurement lifecycle and be prepared to support teammates wherever needed.

DLA’s Pathways to Career Excellence program is a two-year development track that combines formal coursework, on-the-job training, cross-training and rotational assignments. Participants typically start at the GS-7 level and may advance to GS-11 or GS-12 upon completion. Candidates can enter the program as internal hires, recent graduates or transitioning service members. More information is available at www.dla.mil/Careers/PaCE/.