Glenn D. Haggstrom is the Executive Director, Office of Acquisition, Logistics, and Construction. He joined VA in October 2008 with 34 years of Federal service and oversees the Office of Acquisition and Logistics and the Office of Construction and Facilities Management, and serves as the Department’s Chief Acquisition Officer. As the advisor to the Deputy Secretary on acquisition, logistics, and construction issues he directs the development of policies, determines priorities, and establishes organizational goals and objectives for the acquisition and logistics, and construction and facilities management organizations. His responsibilities include overseeing Department-wide acquisition, contracting, contract administration, supply-chain processes, and the planning, design and construction of major facilities for VA. Prior to joining VA, Mr. Haggstrom was the Director, Office of Procurement and Property Management, US Department of Agriculture. He was responsible for the policy, oversight, and guidance of the Department’s acquisition and contracting, sustainability, radiation safety, property portfolio and environmental cleanup programs. As the Director, he also served as the Department’s Deputy Chief Acquisition Officer, Senior Procurement Executive and Senior Real Property Officer. Mr. Haggstrom began his Federal career as a second lieutenant in the U.S. Air Force as a civil engineer officer and was assigned at base level, major command headquarters, Headquarters U.S. Air Force and the North Atlantic Treaty Organizations’ Headquarters in Izmir, Turkey.. He commanded two civil engineer units at the squadron and group level and was The Civil Engineer, United States Air Forces in Europe. As the command engineer, he was responsible for preparing 4,000 engineering professionals for worldwide responsibilities and directed and managed the development and execution of a multi-billion dollar program for construction, operations, environmental stewardship, and emergency services necessary to operate 13 airbases across Europe and Asia. He retired from the U.S. Air Force in 2002 as a colonel with 28 years of service. Mr. Haggstrom graduated from The Ohio State University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Landscape Architecture and was awarded a Master of Arts degree in Public Administration from the University of Northern Colorado.

I went to the MIA (Minneapolis Institute of Art for those of you who don't know acronyms from Minnesota) today because I have a paper that I need to write on one of the works. The professor and a TA (teaching assistant) were there leading students around. The professor loves me in that class and I don't know what his goal is but I assuming it is for me to major or become a graduate student of Art History. He says I have an eye for it. This unfortunately brought up the question of what I'm doing with my life. I'm suppose to graduate this semester with a degree in Marketing and Supply Chain Management and a minor in Art History. But I love the smell of museums and libraries. I enjoy reading and discussing works, but I hate writing papers especially because I feel my written skills are not on the same level as my verbal communication. I don't know I like the idea of Art History but should I throw away my marketing education? It seems wasteful and I'm confused. I wish there was a giant life plan that was delivered with me when I was born. No one tells you when you’re younger that decisions get more difficult and complicated as you get older. And that there is no right or wrong way to live your life.