In my time as a federal contractor, I’ve worked shoulder-to-shoulder with three distinct groups: active-duty military, civil servants, and fellow contractors. Each of them brings their own strengths, rhythms, and perspectives to the table—and learning to navigate that blend has been one of the most valuable parts of my professional growth.

If you’re stepping into a contractor role, or already in one and want to improve how you collaborate, here’s what I’ve learned from working within this three-headed team dynamic.

 

🎖 1. What I’ve Learned from Active-Duty Military Personnel

Coming from the Navy myself, I know what it means to wear the uniform. But working alongside active-duty while no longer in uniform taught me a few things I didn’t fully appreciate until I was on the outside.

🟢 What They Bring:

• Mission-first focus — clear objectives, tight deadlines, minimal fluff
• Discipline and urgency — when something needs to get done, it gets done
• Chain-of-command clarity — decisions are made, orders are followed

🧠 What I’ve Learned:

• Adapt to tempo: Military teams move fast. If you’re supporting them, stay ready. They don’t have time to wait for a third email or a delayed inventory pull.
• Earn trust through action: You won’t earn respect just by showing up—you earn it by delivering. On time. Without drama.
• Respect the uniform: Even as a civilian, I operate with deference to rank, tradition, and structure. That mutual respect smooths the working relationship.

 

🧾 2. What I’ve Learned from Civil Servants

Long-serving government civilians—often GS-level employees—bring a depth of institutional knowledge that you won’t find anywhere else. These folks have been through contract changes, leadership shifts, and three versions of the same program.

🟢 What They Bring:

• Historical perspective — why things work (or don’t) the way they do
• Policy precision — they understand regulations inside and out
• Steady leadership — they’ve been doing the job longer than most of us have been in the workforce

🧠 What I’ve Learned:

• Listen first: These are the people who can tell you where the bodies are buried. If you’re wise, you’ll ask questions and learn from their playbook.
• Don’t confuse quiet with passive: Civil servants may be less reactive than military or contractor types, but their voice carries weight—especially in planning, budgeting, or quality assurance decisions.
• Work collaboratively: Many civil servants are here for the long haul. Show respect, stay professional, and think of the relationship as a long game.

 

🛠 3. What I’ve Learned from Other Contractors

This is the group I’m a part of—men and women who’ve transitioned from uniform, came from private industry, or built technical careers supporting government missions. We’re often the bridge between the military’s urgency and the civilian workforce’s continuity.

🟢 What We Bring:

• Flexibility — contractors wear many hats, often shifting roles mid-project
• Specialized technical skills — from ordnance to software, we’re the niche experts
• Mission loyalty without red tape — we get things done without being buried in bureaucracy

🧠 What I’ve Learned:

• Build alliances, not silos: Contracting companies may compete, but the people rarely should. Collaboration makes you more valuable to everyone—especially the government customer.
• Reputation travels: This is a tight-knit world. Do good work, help your teammates, and your name will follow you to the next project.
• Stay humble and useful: The best contractors I’ve worked with know their stuff but don’t brag. They make things work. They train others. They fix what’s broken—and they keep learning.

 

⚖ Putting It All Together: Balancing the Blend

Working with all three groups at once means adjusting your tone, expectations, and workflows regularly. One moment you’re briefing a junior officer on test results, the next you’re reviewing inventory data with a GS-13, and then you’re hands-on with a contractor team calibrating hardware.

Here’s what keeps me centered:

• Stay mission-focused.
• Respect everyone’s lane—but don’t be afraid to help across them.
• Lead with professionalism, even when things get unclear.

 

Final Thoughts

No team is perfect, and every contract has its rough patches. But what I’ve come to respect is the way these different professional worlds work together when the stakes are high. When it matters most, I’ve seen active-duty, civilians, and contractors show up—not just for the job, but for each other.

And that’s why I keep showing up, too.