Catina Baker

Catina Baker serves as a key procurement lead within the FA8105 Aflcmc Wkk unit of the Department of the Air Force, responsible for managing acquisitions that sustain and modernize the KC-135 aerial refueling fleet. Her work centers on securing mission-critical avionics, communications systems, and aircraft component upgrades essential to extending the operational life of legacy platforms. She handles complex contract actions under FAR Part 15, often coordinating with engineering and logistics teams to align procurement strategy with airworthiness requirements and cybersecurity resilience goals. Her acquisitions directly support the Air Force’s readiness objectives by ensuring compatibility with emerging threats, including electromagnetic interference and 5G spectrum conflicts. Baker maintains a consistent working relationship with AIRCRAFT TECHNOLOGIES, INC., a primary vendor for specialized aircraft integration and retrofit solutions. Her procurement approach emphasizes long-term vendor partnerships grounded in technical expertise, performance history, and compliance with military specification standards. She frequently engages with contractors capable of delivering certified modifications to flight-critical systems, including radar altimeters, digital communication suites, and embedded mission computers, prioritizing those with DoD-qualified quality assurance programs and AS9100 certification. Her contracting portfolio reflects a strong commitment to small business participation, with nearly two-thirds of awards structured as total small business set-asides under FAR 19.5. This pattern underscores a deliberate strategy to cultivate a resilient supply base of qualified small manufacturers, particularly those with niche capabilities in aerospace electronics and precision instrumentation. She actively leverages socioeconomic programs to broaden vendor diversity while maintaining rigorous technical standards. Baker’s primary NAICS focus areas include 333244 (aircraft parts manufacturing), 334290 (communications equipment), and 334515 (electrical signal instrumentation), reflecting her specialization in avionics modernization and mission system integration. She procures high-reliability components for flight control, data link encryption, and electronic warfare support systems, demonstrating deep technical fluency in military aerospace electronics and system-of-systems interoperability.