CDR JosetteRice

CDR Josette Rice serves as Deputy Program Manager for the FA8823 Sustainment MCPNT SSC/PKL under the Department of the Air Force, where she plays a pivotal role in overseeing the acquisition and sustainment of critical aerospace and space-based systems essential to national defense. Her responsibilities include managing the lifecycle procurement of guided missile systems, satellite communications infrastructure, and global positioning system components, ensuring operational readiness through timely contract execution and technical oversight. She works closely with program engineers and logistics teams to align acquisition strategies with mission-critical requirements, prioritizing reliability, interoperability, and long-term sustainment of high-value defense platforms. CDR Rice collaborates with a diverse array of defense contractors specializing in aerospace engineering, space systems integration, and command and control modernization. While specific vendor relationships are not publicly enumerated, her procurement patterns reflect consistent engagement with prime contractors possessing deep expertise in classified space and missile technologies, as well as Tier 1 systems integrators with proven track records in delivering secure, ruggedized defense hardware and software solutions. Her working relationships emphasize performance-based contracting, technical risk mitigation, and strict compliance with Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement (DFARS) requirements. CDR Rice’s contracting portfolio reflects a strong preference for open competition, with 100% of her acquisitions conducted without set-asides, indicating a focus on technical capability and mission necessity over socioeconomic categorization. This approach prioritizes mission effectiveness and industrial base resilience, aligning with the high-stakes nature of space and missile sustainment programs. While small business participation is not formally incentivized in her portfolio, she maintains compliance with all federal small business outreach requirements. Her primary technical domain centers on NAICS categories related to aerospace product and parts manufacturing, satellite communications, and defense electronics. She procures advanced navigation systems, secure data links, ground control stations, and radiation-hardened avionics, demonstrating deep expertise in space domain awareness and missile defense sustainment.