Building Bridges Across Acquisition Functions
By Tim Applegate, CPCM, NCMA Board Chair, Program Year 2026
With great pleasure, NCMA welcomes the new NCMA Board Chair for the 2026 program year (PY26), Tim Applegate, CPCM. With nearly four decades of experience in both military and civilian roles, Applegate harbors a deep appreciation for the strategic and collaborative aspects of contracting. Read on to learn more about Applegate’s strategic vision for the year ahead.
Greetings to the NCMA community! I am honored to be stepping into my role as NCMA’s PY26 Board Chair for an organization with such a long history of elevating contract management as a profession. This organization has been instrumental in shaping my career; I am grateful for the experiences provided by NCMA, as it has helped me build expertise and relationships that are key to thriving in this profession.
Looking at the year ahead, I recognize my responsibility to ensure that every NCMA member – new or seasoned – feels a sense of belonging and value in our community. To me, contract management isn’t just about contracts; it’s about solving problems, fostering partnerships, and driving operational success.
I’m committed to continuing NCMA’s legacy of elevating contract management as a profession and ensuring we remain a trusted resource for our members.
Enhancing the CMS
My vision for the future of contract management is to build a more unified and global standard for the profession. I can’t overemphasize the importance of the Contract Management Standard™ (CMS®) as an accredited standard upon which all defense and civilian certifications are based.
My focus is working with our members and stakeholders to help build and finalize a global contract management standard that sets the bar for excellence, regardless of where it’s practiced.
NCMA’s Evolving Role
NCMA is uniquely positioned to influence policies that impact contract management professionals, primarily because we are a neutral, nonpartisan organization. I’m excited about our most recent initiative, the creation of the FAR Rewrite and Acquisition Efficiency Working Group.
This initiative aims to support key policymakers by providing practical, data-driven recommendations and inputs on proposed legislation when Congress directly requests such input. The three primary goals of the Working Group are efficiency, workforce empowerment, and research-backed agility.
An Engaged Acquisition Team
A core theme of this year’s program is enhancing NCMA’s commitment to strengthening collaboration across the entire acquisition lifecycle. Events such as Nexus are crucial for bringing together the entire acquisition community for conversations that might not otherwise happen. In any business, things work more efficiently when we take a step back and view them holistically.
This is precisely the type of environment that Nexus fosters. I aim to ensure we continue providing a platform like Nexus, which represents and engages with every part of the acquisition lifecycle, making it the perfect space for our community and workforce to connect and grow.
The Future of Contract Management
One of the things I’m most excited about in the year ahead is the opportunity to engage with the incredible professionals in our community. NCMA is built on the passion and expertise of its members, and I look forward to fostering connections at the national and chapter levels, through our online platforms, and with other contracting professionals worldwide.
The future of contract management is incredibly bright, and I’m honored to work alongside such talented individuals to shape its evolution. CM