Amber Maxson

Amber Maxson serves as a key procurement lead within the IT Contracting Division – PL83 of the Defense Information Systems Agency, where she manages mission-critical acquisitions to sustain and modernize secure, interoperable defense information systems. Her responsibilities include planning, soliciting, and awarding contracts for custom software development and IT services that directly support DoD communication, computing, and cybersecurity infrastructure. She specializes in end-to-end acquisition lifecycle management for complex, performance-based requirements, ensuring alignment with DoD standards for resilience, scalability, and zero-trust architecture. Her work directly enables the agency’s strategic goals of legacy system modernization and enhanced cyber defense posture. While specific contractor names are not disclosed in available records, Maxson consistently engages with a diverse ecosystem of qualified vendors, particularly those with proven expertise in secure software development, systems integration, and defense-grade DevSecOps practices. Her procurement patterns reflect a preference for agile, iterative delivery models and performance-based service contracts, fostering long-term partnerships with vendors capable of rapid adaptation to evolving threat landscapes and mission requirements. Maxson demonstrates a full commitment to small business participation, with 100% of her acquisitions structured as total small business set-asides under FAR 19.5. This reflects a deliberate strategy to cultivate innovation and capacity within the defense IT small business community, ensuring equitable access to high-value opportunities for firms certified under socioeconomic programs including 8(a), HUBZone, and WOSB. Her contracting approach prioritizes capability over scale, empowering niche specialists to contribute to national security outcomes. Her primary focus is on NAICS 541511—Custom Computer Programming Services—where she procures tailored software solutions, including mission-critical applications, secure cloud-native platforms, and automated testing frameworks. She specializes in acquisitions requiring deep domain knowledge in DoD architectures, cybersecurity compliance (e.g., RMF, NIST SP 800-53), and legacy system modernization, ensuring that delivered solutions are both operationally effective and sustainably maintainable.