Capt Amy S. Esparza

Capt Amy S. Esparza serves as Chief, Counterspace Contracts within the FA8823 Sustainment MCPNT SSC/PKL under the Department of the Air Force, where she leads the acquisition strategy for critical counterspace capabilities essential to national defense. Her role encompasses the end-to-end management of contracts for space-based sensor systems, anti-satellite defense technologies, space domain awareness platforms, and resilient command and control architectures. She ensures that procurement actions align with the Air Force’s strategic imperative to maintain space superiority through rapid modernization and sustainment of next-generation space assets. Capt Esparza oversees complex, high-priority acquisitions governed by FAR and DFARS, frequently engaging in sole-source, competitive, and other-than-full-and-open contracting mechanisms to meet urgent operational needs. Capt Esparza collaborates with a network of defense aerospace prime contractors and specialized niche technology providers focused on counterspace systems, including firms with expertise in electronic warfare, signal intelligence, space situational awareness, and jam-resistant satellite communications. While specific vendor names are not publicly disclosed, her contracting patterns reflect deep engagement with vendors possessing classified clearance levels, advanced space engineering capabilities, and proven track records in rapid prototyping and fielding of space systems. Her working relationships emphasize technical credibility, supply chain resilience, and compliance with stringent national security requirements. Her procurement strategy reflects a strong commitment to small business participation, with 40% of her portfolio designated for Total Small Business Set-Asides under FAR 19.5, prioritizing innovative small firms capable of delivering cutting-edge counterspace solutions. She actively fosters partnerships with small businesses possessing relevant technical certifications, encouraging participation through mentorship and targeted outreach. No other socioeconomic set-asides are predominant, underscoring a focused emphasis on small business capability over other categories. Capt Esparza’s acquisitions are exclusively concentrated under NAICS 927110—Space Research and Technology—reflecting her domain expertise in space systems sustainment, counterspace weapons development, and space control infrastructure. She procures advanced payloads, ground control segments, signal processing systems, and cyber-hardened space platforms, requiring deep technical understanding of orbital mechanics, RF interference mitigation, and space-based ISR architectures. Her work directly supports the Air Force’s mission to deter and defeat threats to U.S. space assets.