Charles Eppright

Charles Eppright serves as a Contracting Officer within the Contracting and Procurement office of the Transportation Security Administration under the Department of Homeland Security. He is responsible for managing the full lifecycle of acquisition programs focused on advanced transportation security technologies, including custom software development for explosive detection systems, cybersecurity platforms, and GPS-enabled rail monitoring solutions. His role ensures that procurement activities align with national security objectives by delivering mission-critical, high-integrity IT and operational support services. Eppright exercises full contracting authority under FAR and DFARS guidelines, overseeing competitive solicitations, source selection, contract award, and performance monitoring to meet TSA’s strategic imperatives for aviation and transit security modernization. Eppright maintains collaborative relationships with a network of specialized technology vendors and systems integrators experienced in developing secure, scalable software solutions for federal security environments. While no single contractor dominates his portfolio, he consistently engages firms with proven expertise in defense-grade programming, real-time data analytics, and secure software development lifecycles. His contracting approach emphasizes technical capability, past performance, and compliance with NIST cybersecurity standards, fostering long-term vendor partnerships grounded in transparency and accountability. Eppright’s procurement pattern reflects a strong preference for full and open competition, with 100% of his acquisitions conducted without set-asides. This reflects a strategic decision to prioritize technical excellence and operational readiness over socioeconomic classifications, ensuring the most capable providers compete on merit. While small business participation is not formally incentivized in his portfolio, he remains compliant with all federal small business reporting requirements and evaluates all offerors based on technical merit and mission alignment. His primary focus is on NAICS 541511 (Custom Computer Programming Services), where he procures bespoke software solutions tailored to TSA’s unique security operational needs. This includes developing algorithm-driven detection systems, integrating secure communication protocols, and deploying mission-specific applications for airport and transit authority use. Eppright’s expertise lies in the intersection of cybersecurity, software engineering, and transportation infrastructure, making him a key technical procurement leader within DHS.