Darren Cootey

Darren Cootey serves as a key procurement lead within the FA9302 AFTC PZZ unit of the Department of the Air Force, supporting the development and integration of mission-critical airborne systems. His responsibilities center on acquiring advanced avionics, radio and wireless communication equipment, and aeronautical navigation and guidance systems essential for flight testing and next-generation air dominance programs. He manages complex technical acquisitions that bridge R&D and operational deployment, ensuring compliance with DoD standards for interoperability, cybersecurity, and system resilience. His work directly enables the Air Force’s test infrastructure modernization and next-generation aircraft capability validation. Cootey maintains consistent procurement relationships with specialized technology providers including CaraHsoft Technology Corp, Stirling Dynamics Limited, and Aantilia LLC. These contractors deliver niche solutions in embedded systems, signal processing, and ruggedized avionics hardware, often under time-sensitive development schedules. His contracting patterns reflect a preference for firms with proven expertise in aerospace-grade electronics and secure communications, fostering long-term partnerships grounded in technical rigor and rapid prototyping capabilities. His procurement portfolio demonstrates a strong commitment to small business participation, with nearly 42% of awards structured as total small business set-asides under FAR 19.5. While no other socioeconomic set-asides dominate, his consistent use of small business contracting supports innovation from agile vendors with specialized capabilities in avionics and test instrumentation. Cootey’s primary technical focus lies in NAICS 334511, encompassing the procurement of search, detection, navigation, and guidance systems for aircraft, alongside related industrial instrumentation under 334513. He frequently acquires high-reliability electronic components, flight data recorders, telemetry systems, and secure data links critical to flight test ranges and airborne platform validation. His expertise spans the full lifecycle of aeronautical systems procurement—from requirements definition through technical evaluation and contract award—ensuring alignment with Air Force test and evaluation mission objectives.