Candice Peterson

Candice Peterson serves as a Lieutenant in a critical procurement role within the Department of Defense’s aviation support infrastructure, where she is responsible for managing complex acquisitions of non-aircraft-specific air transportation support services. Her position places her at the center of mission-critical contracting efforts that ensure the operational readiness of air mobility and logistics networks. She routinely handles requirements under performance-based service contracts, focusing on technical support, ground handling, maintenance logistics, and airfield operations services. Her acquisitions are strategically aligned with national defense aviation objectives, requiring deep familiarity with Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Part 37 service contracting standards and performance metrics. Peterson maintains a broad, competitive contracting environment with no single contractor dominating her portfolio. She engages with a diverse pool of vendors, including large defense contractors, mid-tier aviation support firms, and niche service providers specializing in airfield infrastructure and logistics. Her procurement approach emphasizes open competition, leveraging full and open solicitations to ensure innovation, cost-effectiveness, and reliability in service delivery. She fosters transparent vendor relationships grounded in clear performance expectations and rigorous contract administration. Her contracting patterns reflect a strong preference for full and open competition, with 100% of her awards issued without set-aside designations such as 8(a), HUBZone, or SDVOSB. This indicates a focus on technical capability and operational necessity over socioeconomic preferences, aligning with mission-critical timing and specialized service requirements where broad competition ensures optimal outcomes. Peterson’s expertise is concentrated in NAICS 488190—Other Support Activities for Air Transportation—which encompasses airfield operations support, ground equipment maintenance, fuel handling, cargo loading assistance, and air traffic support services. She procures specialized technical services essential to sustaining military air operations, requiring vendors with proven experience in military airfield environments, safety compliance, and rapid-response logistics. Her domain expertise lies in integrating commercial best practices with defense-specific operational standards to maintain uninterrupted air mobility support.