ROLAND R WRIGHT ANG BASE, Utah -- U.S. Air Force Master Sgt. Lyndi Bell, a contracting superintendent with the 151st Mission Support Group, arrived at Prince Sultan Air Base for her deployment in Saudi Arabia, facing overwhelming challenges. "I had not really been in a situation where I was having to lead a team before," said Bell. "Through all of that, our team rocked it and we did a lot of good things over there."
Bell received the Excellence in Contracting and Agreements (ECA) 2025 NCO of the Year award, a recognition highly esteemed in the military contracting community. Her journey to this monumental moment began nearly two decades ago.
Bell enlisted in the Air Force in 2008 and has served for 17 years. She was on active duty for five years and then transitioned to the Utah Air National Guard (UTANG) in 2013. Coming from a military family, her father is a retired UTANG member, her sister currently serves on the same base, and her brother is in the Army.
Bell began her military career in the services field before transferring to contracting in 2019, bringing a new level of excitement and fulfillment. She discovered that contracting was her passion, thanks to her familiarity with acquisitions from her civilian role and her experience in the services sector.
In contracting, Bell manages several tasks and responsibilities to ensure the base remains functional. Some of her duties include drafting contracts, reviewing purchase packages, and supporting various construction projects and architectural or engineering endeavors. Bell also serves as the program coordinator for the Government Purchase Card (GPC) program, providing support to members in purchasing all necessary supplies and services. Through her hard work and diligence in leading the GPC program, she has facilitated over 1,200 transitions, valued at more than $1.5 million. Despite Bell's many accomplishments, her expertise would be leveraged in one of her most challenging assignments when deployed to the Middle East.
In October 2023, Bell deployed to Prince Sultan Air Base as the Operations Support and Commodities Flight Chief during the first-ever Air National Guard-led Expeditionary Air Base. The six-month deployment focused on providing mission-critical supplies and services.
The deployment tested Bell's leadership skills, as this was her first time holding the title of flight chief, working with a team of 10. She had to navigate her team through numerous situations with clear and concise communication, while upholding and fostering camaraderie, and simultaneously establishing and maintaining a strong relationship with leadership. Bell implemented daily checklists for all team members, followed by coordinating with leadership to delegate and prioritize mission-critical assets, and reviewing all contracts to ensure accurate information.
“The people in the guard that you work with, you have to see them every single day,” Bell said. “You have to care about what you do.”
The contingency environment presented to Bell exposed a learning curve. She was working in a tent and sleeping in a containerized housing unit. There was initially no plumbing or electricity; those were services brought in by them. Many necessities that Bell had no prior experience with when it came to contracting. Yet, she understood the importance of the mission and rose to the occasion.
In her first month of deployment, she secured seven contracts and modifications, valued at over $2.4 million. These were crucial for providing bulk water, transportation, removal of hazardous materials and waste, and other necessities. Further along in her deployment, she managed a $1.8 million acquisition for the 378th Air Wing Expeditionary, specifically for custodial services on base. Facilitating vital restrooms and shower facilities, ensuring sanitary conditions for over 2,000 personnel.
In addition to her primary duties, Bell served as captain of a seven-person joint force volleyball team while organizing a tournament, further demonstrating her leadership skills and commitment to building camaraderie among service members.
By the end of her deployment, Bell and her team had successfully handled 54 various contracts, including purchase card transactions, totaling $22.2 million.
One of the most challenging aspects of Bell's deployment, she explained, was being away from her daughter, Callie. But both remained resilient and in constant contact with one another, viewing their situation as an opportunity to grow as a family.
Regardless of the obstacles she faced, Bell's grit helped her remain mission-focused. "I wasn't concerned about anything other than getting my job done," said Bell. "Having to work late or come in on my day off, I would go and stop by the office to help me manage things, and continuously work."
Bell's prowess and strategic planning during her deployment, as well as her accomplishments with the UTANG, would not go unnoticed. U.S. Air Force Maj. Bruce Weaver, Base Contracting Officer for the 151st Mission Support Group, recognized Bell's tireless dedication and the positive outcomes of her self-employed mentality and leadership skills, which warranted his decision to nominate her.
"She's one of those people that loves what we do in contracting," Weaver said. "Making sure things are done the right way, that our customers across the base are being served in the best manner possible."
Bell credits much of her success in contracting to the mentorship she received from leadership, such as Maj. Weaver. She explained how they helped develop her for that role, given the opportunity to see how contracting integrates with all the different parts on base.
Another major factor that contributed to her success was her father. She believes that he instilled a strong work ethic in her and her siblings, and his prior service with the UTANG paved the way for her own path in the military.
“We care about what we do, I feel like that’s something known in the Utah Air National Guard,” Bell said. “We’re making all these improvements to the base, trying to leave it better than we found it.”
Bell’s achievements reflect a career marked by dedication and a clear commitment to mission success, from her early days in service to her deployment overseas. She has consistently demonstrated the qualities required of a leader. Her recognition for the ECA stands as a testament to her impact within contracting and the UTANG.
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