PaCER Spotlight: Megan Palovchik

Megan Palovchik is a current member of the Defense Logistics Agency Weapons Support (Columbus) Pathways to Career Excellence program. She began her PaCE journey in February 2025 and will graduate in February 2027 as a pre-award contract specialist.

Why did you first apply to the PaCE program?

After several years of working with kids with special needs, I decided to pursue a career more aligned with my business education. However, re-entering the professional workforce was challenging. Despite my education, strengths and strong recommendations, most employers were hesitant to hire someone who had been out of the traditional workforce for an extended time, even though I possessed strong soft skills. I was looking for an organization willing to invest in training the specific hard skills required.

The PaCE program description immediately caught my eye because it offered exactly that: a commitment to training and skill development. This willingness to train opens the door to a wide range of candidates from varied backgrounds, which I believe is one of DLA's greatest strengths. The variety in backgrounds amongst the individuals working at DLA is one of the things that I value greatly about working here.

What is your professional background?

After completing my master's degree in business administration, I began my career as a marketing and business development consultant for high tech start-ups. Our company managed the business development office at the only technology incubator in Columbus at the time. It was an exciting career, and I loved learning about the technologies developed by my client companies and helping them navigate their growth. After taking a year off to start a family, I spent five years working part-time, managing my own consulting business.

After a successful consulting career, I chose to step away from the workforce for several years to focus on my family. During that time, I maintained an active volunteer role in many community organizations. For my return to the workforce, I shifted gears. I spent nine years as a paraprofessional in two local school districts, working with children with learning and developmental disabilities. That role taught me invaluable lessons in patience, empathy and creative problem-solving. I believe that I learned more than my students.

What are the biggest challenges you face in your role in the PaCE program? How do you overcome them?

The single biggest challenge is managing the sheer volume of knowledge and information required to be an effective contract specialist. I operate under the belief that while you'll never know everything, the most critical skill is knowing how to find what you need. I overcome this by utilizing all available resources - from job aids to collaborating with experienced teammates. I make sure to utilize feedback from my contracting officers to grow my knowledge base and skillset.

The key is not just to find information, but to synthesize and analyze it to solve the problems at hand. We want to make sure we're getting the right parts to the warfighter, in a timely manner and at a fair price. We are constantly faced with new situations, and navigating the complexities of federal regulations to support the warfighter requires a commitment to continuous learning.

What's something that most people don't know about your job?

Before joining DLA, my career was intensely active and hands-on. Honestly, I expected that a contracting job would be the complete opposite - and perhaps a bit boring. What I discovered is how genuinely interesting this work can be. The daily challenge of solving complex puzzles to acquire the right items, at the right price, for our service members is far more interesting than most people would imagine.

What trends do you see shaping your job role in the future?

The most influential trend is undoubtedly the proliferation of artificial intelligence. AI is already changing how we operate in nearly every facet of our lives by taking on tasks of varying complexity. To ensure longevity in the workforce, we must learn to use AI as an effective tool, positioning ourselves in roles that require the critical thinking and strategic oversight that AI complements, rather than replaces. Thriving in the future will require the agility to grow alongside this technology. Did I utilize AI to polish my answer to that question? I most certainly did.

What makes a good fit for someone in your position?

An ideal fit for a contract specialist is someone dedicated to continuous learning. The role also demands the ability to translate that knowledge into practical action and the flexibility to adapt to changing information and regulations. Additionally, strong organizational skills are very important. The volume and complexity of the work can be overwhelming, but being able to organize your workload and thoughts pays dividends in efficiency and reduces stress. Communication skills, both written and verbal, are also paramount to success in this role.

How would you describe your job to someone unfamiliar with it?

To those unfamiliar with my job, I would use the simplest terms possible to describe what I do. I'm learning how to purchase items within the federal government system with the ultimate goal of supporting those who have dedicated their lives to serving as our nation's warfighters. It's my responsibility to help make sure that the warfighters get what they need for their safety and to do their jobs effectively, while acquiring those items in the most timely manner I can, and at the best price I can negotiate to wisely steward taxpayer dollars. While the job itself is incredibly complex with many moving parts, the core purpose is simple.

Can you share a specific accomplishment or project that made you feel especially proud?

One moment that made me feel very accomplished was signing my first contract after receiving my micro-purchase warrant. Reflecting on the time and effort invested to reach that point, it was a genuinely proud moment. This is a challenging and complex field. Receiving the feedback from my supervisor and contracting officer that they were confident in my ability to execute contracts well was validation of my hard work that made me proud of what I had achieved.

Editorial Note: The DLA Weapons Support (Columbus) Pathways to Career Excellence program is a two-year program based in Columbus, Ohio, that provides a structured career path with formal training, on-the-job assignments, cross-training and rotational assignments. PaCERs begin as general schedule 7s and can advance to GS-11or GS-12 upon completion. There are multiple pathways to becoming a PaCER, including being hired internally, as a recent graduate or from military service. For more information, visit www.dla.mil/Careers/PaCE/.