Capt Steven L. Howard

Capt Steven L. Howard serves as a Buyer within the FA8823 Sustainment MCPNT SSC/PKL under the Department of the Air Force, where he plays a pivotal role in securing critical technical services to sustain and modernize aerospace and space-based defense systems. His procurement responsibilities center on ensuring the operational readiness of guided missile systems, satellite communications infrastructure, and global positioning technologies. He manages a portfolio of non-construction service acquisitions, primarily focused on professional, scientific, and technical support services essential to maintaining national security space capabilities. Capt. Howard’s work directly supports the agency’s mission to extend the lifecycle of high-priority space assets while integrating emerging technologies into legacy platforms. Capt. Howard maintains a broad and flexible contractor base, engaging with a diverse array of professional services firms specializing in systems engineering, technical analysis, and space operations support. While no single contractor dominates his award portfolio, he consistently collaborates with firms possessing deep expertise in aerospace sustainment, signal processing, and space domain awareness. His contracting approach emphasizes performance-based outcomes, technical proficiency, and proven experience with classified or sensitive DoD systems, fostering long-term vendor partnerships grounded in reliability and mission alignment. Capt. Howard’s procurement patterns reflect a strong preference for full and open competition, with 100% of his acquisitions designated as “No Set-Aside.” This indicates a focus on technical merit and capability over socioeconomic classifications, though it does not preclude participation from small businesses that meet stringent technical requirements. His approach prioritizes mission-critical performance over mandated set-asides, aligning with the specialized nature of space and missile sustainment work. His primary procurement focus lies in NAICS 541990 (All Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services) and 927110 (Space Research and Technology), reflecting his specialization in advanced engineering support, systems integration, and space technology sustainment. He routinely procures services related to satellite command and control, orbital maintenance, navigation system upgrades, and secure communications architecture modernization, demonstrating deep domain expertise in space systems lifecycle management.