Dan Hayes

Dan Hayes serves as a key procurement lead within the FA2518 USSF SPOC/SAIO, supporting the Department of the Air Force’s mission to modernize space domain capabilities through specialized engineering and telecommunications acquisitions. He manages the lifecycle of contracts for critical space-based systems, including satellite communications, electromagnetic warfare platforms, and space domain awareness technologies. His role centers on ensuring timely, compliant, and technically sound procurement of high-priority defense capabilities that sustain operational superiority in contested space environments. Hayes routinely handles complex, mission-critical acquisitions requiring rigorous technical evaluation and systems engineering oversight. Hayes maintains consistent working relationships with leading defense and aerospace contractors, including Keystone Mission Solutions Corp, Riverside Research Institute, and Bowhead Information Technology Service LLC. These partnerships reflect a preference for established, high-capability vendors with proven expertise in space systems engineering, signal intelligence, and secure communications infrastructure. His contracting approach emphasizes long-term vendor collaboration, technical alignment with mission needs, and performance-based contract structures that incentivize innovation and reliability in high-stakes operational environments. Hayes’s procurement portfolio exhibits no set-aside preferences, with 100% of awards issued under full and open competition. This reflects a strategic focus on technical capability over socioeconomic classifications, prioritizing mission readiness and system interoperability. While small business participation is not formally incentivized in his acquisitions, the nature of the work often attracts mid-to-large firms with specialized space domain expertise, aligning with the technical complexity and security requirements of USSF missions. His primary procurement focus is on NAICS 541330 (Engineering Services), encompassing systems engineering, satellite integration, and RF/communications design, with a secondary emphasis on NAICS 481219 (Other Nonscheduled Air Transportation), supporting specialized logistics for space hardware and test assets. His technical domain expertise lies in secure space communications, space surveillance architectures, and electromagnetic spectrum operations, making him a critical conduit between operational requirements and acquisition execution in the national security space enterprise.