Charles F Hertenstein

Charles F. Hertenstein serves as a Contract Specialist at Headquarters, Air Combat Command’s Acquisition Management Integration Center (FA4890), where he plays a pivotal role in executing mission-critical acquisitions that sustain and modernize air dominance capabilities. He manages the full lifecycle of contracts for advanced training systems, command and control infrastructure, and technical services essential to pilot readiness and tactical communications. His work directly supports the Department of the Air Force’s operational readiness objectives by ensuring timely, compliant, and effective procurement of high-priority defense capabilities. Hertenstein specializes in complex service-based acquisitions requiring rigorous technical evaluation and performance-based contract structures. He maintains established working relationships with key contractors including VETPRIDE-EMI Maintenance Solutions, LLC, MILTRAIN JV II LLC, and JBW FEDITC JV LLC, reflecting a pattern of sustained partnerships with joint venture entities and specialized service providers delivering integrated training, maintenance, and IT support solutions. His contracting approach emphasizes performance outcomes, risk mitigation, and contractor accountability, often involving performance-based service agreements and indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity (IDIQ) vehicles to ensure flexible, responsive support for dynamic operational requirements. Hertenstein exhibits a balanced approach to socioeconomic contracting, with the majority of his awards issued under no set-aside provisions, while consistently allocating approximately one-quarter of his portfolio to small business set-asides, including Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business (SDVOSB) and Total Small Business (FAR 19.5) categories. This reflects a deliberate commitment to fostering competition and enabling qualified small businesses to contribute to national defense missions without compromising mission-critical performance standards. His primary procurement focus centers on NAICS codes 541511 (Custom Computer Programming Services), 541519 (Other Computer Related Services), 519190 (Other Information Services), 511210 (Software Publishers), and 611430 (Professional and Management Development Training). These reflect deep expertise in procuring software development, data analytics, simulation systems, and advanced military training services tailored to air combat operations, underscoring his technical proficiency in defense-relevant IT and workforce development domains.