Amanda K. Ocker

Amanda K. Ocker serves as a Contract Specialist within the U.S. Special Operations Command (USSOCOM), where she plays a pivotal role in acquiring mission-critical technologies that enhance the tactical superiority of special operations forces. Her responsibilities encompass the full lifecycle of procurement, from requirement validation and market research to contract award and administration, with a focus on rapid prototyping and field-deployable systems. Ocker specializes in high-priority acquisitions involving advanced communications, electro-optical systems, and sensor technologies, ensuring that USSOCOM’s operational units receive timely, secure, and technologically advanced capabilities to support global special operations missions. Ocker collaborates with a diverse range of defense contractors and technology innovators, primarily those with proven expertise in military-grade radio and wireless communications equipment. While specific contractor names are not disclosed in available data, her procurement patterns reflect consistent engagement with firms capable of meeting stringent DoD security standards, rapid iteration requirements, and ruggedized engineering specifications. She fosters partnerships with vendors who demonstrate agility in prototype development and can integrate with existing SOF platforms, emphasizing performance, interoperability, and sustainment. Ocker’s contracting portfolio is entirely non-set-aside, with 100% of acquisitions conducted under full and open competition. This reflects USSOCOM’s operational imperative to access the broadest possible pool of technical capability, prioritizing mission readiness over socioeconomic preferences. While small business participation is not formally structured through set-asides, her approach remains inclusive, evaluating all qualified vendors based on technical merit and delivery timelines. Her primary procurement focus is on NAICS 334220—Radio and Television Broadcasting and Wireless Communications Equipment Manufacturing—encompassing secure tactical radios, software-defined radios, encrypted data links, and integrated electro-optical systems. Ocker’s expertise lies in acquiring technologies that enable real-time situational awareness, networked command and control, and resilient communications in denied or contested environments, aligning directly with USSOCOM’s mission to maintain technological dominance across all operational domains.