Bernadette L. Waters

Bernadette L. Waters serves as a key procurement professional within the U.S. Army Special Operations Command (USASOC), overseeing the acquisition of mission-critical training, educational support, and specialized instructional services that enhance the tactical proficiency and doctrinal readiness of elite special operations forces. Her work is central to USASOC’s mission of enabling high-performance units through tailored professional development and leadership training programs. She manages a portfolio of complex contracts under FAR Part 12 and Part 37, focusing on performance-based service acquisitions that align with SOF-specific operational requirements, including simulation-based learning, adaptive curriculum development, and advanced instructor support systems. Waters maintains consistent working relationships with a select group of prime contractors including AMD INTERNATIONAL TECHNOLOGIES LLC, SOF LANDING LLC, TERRESTRIS, LLC, and STRATEGIC SOLUTIONS UNLIMITED, INC.—organizations known for their deep expertise in special operations training environments, language and cultural instruction, and mission rehearsal systems. Her contracting approach emphasizes long-term, performance-driven partnerships with vendors who demonstrate proven capability in delivering responsive, scalable, and secure educational solutions tailored to austere and high-threat operational contexts. She exhibits a strong and consistent commitment to socioeconomic contracting, directing 100% of her acquisitions toward total small business set-asides under FAR 19.5. This reflects a deliberate strategy to leverage the agility and niche capabilities of small businesses in delivering specialized training and support services. Her contracting patterns prioritize small business participation without reliance on large business subcontracting, reinforcing USASOC’s mandate to foster innovation through diverse vendor engagement. Her primary procurement focus is centered on NAICS 333310, Commercial and Service Industry Machinery Manufacturing, which encompasses specialized training equipment, simulation hardware, and mission-specific instructional systems. This technical domain reflects her expertise in acquiring integrated platforms that bridge physical training infrastructure with digital learning environments, ensuring that SOF personnel receive cutting-edge, field-deployable educational tools that meet the highest standards of operational realism and reliability.