Debbie D Tatum

Debbie D. Tatum serves as a Contracting Officer within the FA8823 Sustainment MCPNT SSC/PKL, a critical unit under the Department of the Air Force responsible for sustaining and modernizing aerospace and space-based defense systems. In this role, she leads the acquisition lifecycle for high-priority guided missile systems, space vehicle platforms, and associated command, control, and communications infrastructure. Her procurement activities center on ensuring operational readiness through technical oversight of complex engineering, integration, and sustainment contracts, often involving cutting-edge propulsion, guidance, and satellite technologies. Tatum’s work directly supports national security objectives by enabling the continued functionality of critical defense assets across global theaters. Tatum maintains strategic partnerships with a select group of prime contractors specializing in aerospace defense manufacturing, particularly those with proven expertise in missile system sustainment and space vehicle lifecycle support. While no single vendor dominates her portfolio, her contracting patterns reflect a preference for established defense industrial base firms with deep technical capabilities in missile propulsion, avionics integration, and space systems modernization. Her approach emphasizes performance-based contracting, risk mitigation, and rigorous technical compliance to ensure mission-critical reliability. Tatum’s procurement strategy reflects a strong emphasis on open competition, with 100% of her acquisitions conducted under non-set-aside authorities. She does not currently utilize 8(a), HUBZone, SDVOSB, or other socioeconomic set-asides, instead prioritizing technical capability and mission readiness over socioeconomic classifications. This reflects the highly specialized nature of the systems she procures and the limited pool of qualified industry participants capable of meeting stringent DoD performance standards. Her primary focus is on NAICS 336414—Guided Missile and Space Vehicle Manufacturing—where she acquires end-to-end systems including launch vehicles, guidance modules, telemetry suites, and ground control interfaces. Tatum’s expertise lies in complex hardware integration, long-term sustainment contracts, and technology refresh initiatives for legacy space and missile platforms, making her a key steward of the Air Force’s strategic aerospace capabilities.