Barbara Steinbock

Barbara Steinbock serves as a Contracting Officer for the Air Force Research Laboratory’s RDK division (FA9451), where she leads the acquisition of advanced research and development services critical to national security and air dominance. Her portfolio centers on high-priority technical initiatives in directed energy, electro-optics, laser systems, and advanced instrumentation, ensuring the rapid transition of cutting-edge scientific capabilities from lab to field. She manages complex sole-source and competitive procurements under FAR Part 35 and 36, often coordinating with technical leads to align contract requirements with mission-critical R&D objectives, particularly in physics-based engineering and optical systems development. Steinbock collaborates with a diverse ecosystem of contractors, including specialized defense science and engineering firms, university-affiliated research centers, and niche technology developers. Her procurement patterns reflect a preference for agile, performance-based contracts that support iterative prototyping and rapid field validation. While no single contractor dominates her portfolio, she consistently engages vendors with proven expertise in laser vulnerability analysis, high-energy laser system integration, and precision optical instrumentation, fostering long-term partnerships grounded in technical rigor and compliance. Her contracting approach prioritizes broad market access, with 72.7% of awards issued as unrestricted competitions. She actively promotes small business participation, dedicating 18.2% of opportunities to total small business set-asides and 9.1% specifically to service-disabled veteran-owned small businesses, demonstrating a deliberate commitment to socioeconomic diversity in high-tech procurement. Steinbock’s primary procurement focus is NAICS 541712—research and development in physical, engineering, and life sciences—reflecting her domain expertise in advanced aerospace technologies. She also procures specialized glassware manufacturing and semiconductor components essential for laser and sensor systems, alongside computer facilities management and scientific consulting services that support lab infrastructure and technical analysis. Her work bridges fundamental science and operational capability, ensuring RDK’s innovations remain at the forefront of Air Force technological superiority.