Berenice Valenzuela

Berenice Valenzuela 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 elite special operations forces. Her responsibilities encompass the full lifecycle management of complex procurements, with a focus on rapid prototyping, field-deployable systems, and technology insertion programs aligned with USSOCOM’s strategic priorities. She routinely handles sole-source, urgent requirement, and accelerated acquisition pathways to deliver cutting-edge communications, electro-optical, and sensor systems under tight operational timelines, ensuring warfighters receive next-generation capabilities without compromising compliance or accountability. Valenzuela works closely with a concentrated base of defense prime contractors specializing in advanced radio communications, secure data links, and night vision equipment manufacturing. Her procurement patterns reflect deep collaboration with firms possessing Type 1 and Type 2 cleared manufacturing capabilities, often engaging vendors with prior experience in classified DoD programs. She fosters long-term vendor partnerships grounded in technical rigor, rapid response timelines, and adherence to ITAR and DFARS compliance, ensuring seamless integration of proprietary technologies into special operations platforms. Her contracting portfolio shows no reliance on socioeconomic set-asides, with 100% of her acquisitions conducted under full and open competition. This reflects USSOCOM’s operational imperative to prioritize technical performance and speed of delivery over socioeconomic preferences, though she remains fully compliant with all federal acquisition regulations and actively supports small business participation where it aligns with mission needs. Valenzuela’s primary procurement focus lies in NAICS 334220 (Radio and Television Broadcasting and Wireless Communications Equipment Manufacturing), with secondary emphasis on NAICS 334290 (Other Communications Equipment Manufacturing). She specializes in acquiring secure tactical radios, software-defined radios, multi-band antennas, electro-optical/infrared sensor suites, and ruggedized embedded communication systems—technologies essential to USSOCOM’s cross-domain operational dominance. Her expertise spans RF engineering, signal integrity, and secure waveform integration, making her a key enabler of special operations’ technological edge.