Deanna Van Cleaf-Foreman

Deanna Van Cleaf serves as a key procurement professional within the W6QK AATD Contracting Office, part of the Department of the Army’s advanced technology development ecosystem. She manages complex acquisitions focused on next-generation defense systems, particularly in aeronautical avionics, adaptive communications infrastructure, and mission-critical software solutions. Her work directly supports the agency’s mission to accelerate the integration of cutting-edge engineering and physical science capabilities into operational military platforms. Van Cleaf typically handles full lifecycle contracts—from basic research and prototyping to systems integration and field deployment—ensuring technical rigor and compliance with DoD acquisition regulations. Her contractor relationships are primarily with high-technology firms specializing in aerospace systems and software publishing, including defense primes and innovative mid-tier vendors with proven expertise in real-time signal processing, embedded systems, and secure data architectures. While no single contractor dominates her portfolio, she consistently engages with vendors capable of rapid prototyping, modular design, and ruggedized hardware-software co-development. Her procurement approach emphasizes technical merit, agile development methodologies, and performance-based outcomes over fixed-price models. Van Cleaf’s contracting activity is entirely non-set-aside, with 100% of awards issued under unrestricted competition. This reflects a strategic focus on accessing the broadest possible pool of technical expertise, prioritizing capability and innovation over socioeconomic preferences. While small business participation is not formally mandated in her portfolio, she evaluates all offerors on technical merit, ensuring that qualified small businesses compete on equal footing when they meet stringent performance requirements. Her primary procurement focus lies in NAICS 513210 (Software Publishers) and 334511 (Aeronautical and Navigation System Manufacturing), reflecting deep specialization in mission-critical software, avionics architecture, sensor fusion systems, and secure communication protocols. She routinely procures embedded flight control software, tactical data links, AI-enhanced decision aids, and modular open systems architectures designed for rapid upgradeability in contested environments.