Cathy Y. Butler

Cathy Y. Butler serves as a Contracting Officer within the FA8823 Sustainment MCPNT SSC/PKL under the Department of the Air Force, where she plays a pivotal role in securing critical aerospace and space-based sustainment capabilities. She manages the full lifecycle of complex acquisitions for guided missile systems, satellite communications infrastructure, and global positioning system components, ensuring operational readiness of national defense assets. Her portfolio centers on long-term sustainment contracts requiring technical precision, systems integration, and lifecycle support, often involving classified and mission-critical environments. Butler’s work directly supports the Air Force’s strategic imperative to modernize and maintain high-tempo space and missile operations. Her contractor relationships are primarily with high-capability engineering and R&D firms experienced in defense aerospace systems, including firms with deep expertise in space vehicle sustainment, command and control architectures, and electromagnetic spectrum management. While no single vendor dominates her portfolio, she consistently engages with vendors possessing DoD security clearances, ITAR compliance, and proven track records in sustaining legacy and next-generation space systems. Her contracting approach emphasizes technical rigor, performance-based outcomes, and contract administration aligned with FAR and DFARS requirements. Butler’s procurement activity reflects a strong preference for unrestricted competition, with 100% of her awards issued under the No Set-Aside category. This indicates a focus on technical merit and mission-critical capability over socioeconomic set-asides, though she remains compliant with all federal small business policies. Her approach prioritizes mission assurance and system reliability, aligning with the high-stakes nature of space and missile sustainment operations. Her primary procurement focus lies in NAICS 541712 (Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences), accounting for 80% of her activity, and NAICS 541330 (Engineering Services), at 20%. She routinely procures advanced systems engineering, modeling and simulation, test and evaluation services, and sustainment engineering for space and missile platforms, demonstrating deep technical fluency in aerospace systems lifecycle management.