Maria Christina Wichert

Christina Wichert serves as a key procurement professional within the FA2318 AFLCMC C3MK unit of the Department of the Air Force, supporting the development and integration of advanced airborne command, control, and communications (C3) systems. She manages acquisitions for mission-critical computing platforms that enable real-time mission planning, dynamic replanning, and secure data processing in contested environments. Her portfolio centers on modernizing aircrew computing environments and enhancing agile aircraft systems through tailored software and hardware solutions, ensuring operational readiness across high-threat theaters. Wichert’s work directly enables the Air Force’s strategic priority of resilient, networked air operations through rapid acquisition of next-generation C3 capabilities. Her contractor relationships primarily involve defense technology firms and IT services providers specializing in secure computing architectures, real-time data processing, and mission-critical software systems. She engages with a mix of large defense primes and innovative small businesses capable of delivering rapid prototyping and field-deployable solutions. While no single contractor dominates her portfolio, her pattern reflects a preference for vendors with proven expertise in DoD cybersecurity standards, embedded systems, and tactical data links. Wichert’s contracting approach prioritizes open competition, with 85.7% of awards issued without set-aside restrictions, reflecting the technical complexity and urgency of her mission requirements. However, she consistently allocates 14.3% of opportunities to total small business set-asides under FAR 19.5, demonstrating a measured commitment to fostering innovation from small, agile vendors without compromising mission performance. Her primary procurement focus lies in Custom Computer Programming Services (NAICS 541511) and Computer Systems Design Services (NAICS 541512), with significant activity in Computing Infrastructure Providers (NAICS 518210) and Security Systems Services (NAICS 561621). She also engages in specialized acquisitions for aircraft computing hardware under NAICS 336412. Her domain expertise spans secure edge computing, tactical data fusion, and integrated avionics systems—core enablers of next-generation air dominance.