Deanna Van Cleaf

Deanna Van Cleaf serves as a key procurement lead within the W6QK AATD Contracting Office, part of the U.S. Army’s broader effort to advance next-generation defense technologies. She manages complex research and development acquisitions focused on aeronautical systems, adaptive avionics, and secure communications infrastructure, ensuring alignment with the Army’s strategic modernization goals. Her portfolio emphasizes high-priority engineering and scientific initiatives, often involving rapid prototyping and systems integration contracts for mission-critical defense applications. She works closely with technical stakeholders to translate operational needs into precise solicitation requirements, ensuring acquisitions support innovation while maintaining compliance with federal acquisition regulations. Van Cleaf cultivates partnerships with a diverse range of contractors specializing in advanced instrumentation, aerospace components, and mission-critical software. While no single vendor dominates her award stream, she consistently engages firms with proven expertise in electronic signal testing, aircraft subsystem manufacturing, and cybersecurity-enabled communications platforms. Her contracting approach favors technical capability over scale, often leading to collaborations with niche engineering firms and specialized technology developers capable of delivering tailored solutions under tight developmental timelines. Her procurement strategy reflects a strong preference for open competition, with 100% of her acquisitions designated as non-set-aside. This indicates a focus on technical merit and performance capability rather than socioeconomic classifications, though she remains compliant with all small business participation requirements. Her approach prioritizes mission readiness and innovation, ensuring that procurement decisions are driven by technical superiority and system interoperability. Van Cleaf’s primary NAICS focus includes 333249 (Other Industrial Machinery Manufacturing) for specialized test and measurement equipment, 334515 for precision instrumentation, and 513210 for embedded software and signal processing applications. She frequently procures avionics subsystems, secure data link components, and field-deployable communications hardware, demonstrating deep expertise in the intersection of aerospace engineering, electronic systems, and defense software development.