Amelia Velasco

Amelia Velasco serves as a key procurement lead within the Incident Procurement Aviation Branch of the U.S. Forest Service, where she manages mission-critical acquisitions to sustain aerial firefighting and emergency aviation logistics. Her responsibilities encompass the full lifecycle of contracts for specialized aircraft support services, avionics upgrades, night-vision-compatible systems, and mission-critical training technologies. She ensures that procurement activities align with federal aviation safety standards and rapid-response operational needs across national forests, prioritizing agility, reliability, and compliance with National Interagency Fire Center protocols. Velasco’s portfolio is strategically aligned with the agency’s mandate to maintain airborne readiness during wildland fire seasons and other natural disaster events. While specific contractor names are not publicly disclosed, Velasco maintains a robust network of vendors specializing in aviation maintenance, unmanned aerial systems, and emergency response logistics. Her contracting patterns reflect a preference for established defense and aerospace subcontractors with proven experience in federal wildfire support roles, alongside niche providers of mission-specific avionics and pilot training simulators. She fosters long-term vendor partnerships grounded in performance-based outcomes and strict adherence to FAA and DOT regulatory frameworks. Velasco exhibits an overwhelming commitment to small business participation, with 96.3% of her acquisitions set aside for small businesses under FAR 19.5. Her contracting approach consistently prioritizes 8(a), HUBZone, and SDVOSB-certified firms, reflecting a deliberate strategy to enhance economic inclusion while building a resilient, geographically diverse supplier base capable of rapid deployment in remote terrain. Her primary NAICS focus areas include 237310 and 237110 for infrastructure support tied to helispot and airfield construction, 561720 for janitorial and decontamination services at incident bases, and 481211 for nonscheduled chartered air transport—particularly for crew and equipment mobility. This blend of construction, logistics, and aviation services underscores her technical expertise in integrating ground and aerial operational ecosystems for wildland fire response.