Barbara Ann Phillips

Barbara A. Phillips serves as a Contracting Officer within the FA8620 Aflcmc Wijk Big Safari unit of the Department of Defense, where she plays a critical role in accelerating the acquisition of classified and unconventional airborne systems for special operations and ISR missions. She manages complex, time-sensitive procurements for advanced avionics, sensor integration, mission-specific electronics, and secure communications systems—primarily for platforms such as the C-130 and MQ-9. Her work operates outside traditional acquisition timelines, emphasizing agile development, rapid prototyping, and fielding of mission-critical capabilities under stringent security protocols. Phillips ensures compliance with national security procurement regulations while enabling operational tempo through streamlined contracting pathways. Her contractor relationships are primarily with high-tier technical service providers specializing in defense-critical systems integration, software development, and systems engineering. While specific vendor names are not publicly disclosed, her portfolio consistently engages firms with proven expertise in classified program execution, cybersecurity-hardened software, and airborne platform modernization. She fosters long-term partnerships with vendors capable of operating under strict compartmentalized access controls and who demonstrate agility in adapting to evolving mission requirements. Barbara’s set-aside preferences reflect a strong focus on unrestricted competition, with 93.3% of awards issued under open solicitations. The remaining 6.7% are reserved for Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Businesses, indicating a measured but intentional commitment to socioeconomic programs without compromising mission urgency or technical rigor. Her primary NAICS focus areas include Custom Computer Programming Services (541511), Administrative Management Consulting (541611), and Other Scientific and Technical Consulting (541690), underscoring her procurement emphasis on software development, systems engineering, and mission planning support. She also procures specialized investigation and background services (561611) to support personnel security for sensitive programs. Her domain expertise lies at the intersection of defense aviation, electronic warfare, and secure data systems, making her a key enabler of Big Safari’s rapid capability deployment mission.