Derek Rooks

Derek Rooks serves as the primary contracting lead for the W6QK Acc-ri under the Department of the Army, responsible for managing the acquisition of critical ordnance, precision-machined components, and battlefield support systems essential to the Army’s industrial base modernization. His role centers on ensuring the reliable and timely procurement of explosives manufacturing capabilities and related fabrication services that sustain weapons systems and ammunition production pipelines. He oversees full lifecycle contracting actions—from solicitation and source selection to contract administration—focusing on mission-critical technical domains that demand stringent quality, compliance, and supply chain resilience. Rooks maintains long-standing partnerships with a core group of specialized industrial contractors, including AMD International Technologies LLC, Faxon Machining, LLC, Palantir USG Inc., and Allied Metal Tech, LLC. These vendors are selected for their proven expertise in high-precision metal fabrication, munitions production, and defense-grade software integration. His contracting patterns reflect a preference for established, technically capable firms with demonstrated experience in Department of Defense compliance, ITAR/EAR adherence, and secure manufacturing environments, indicating a focus on mission-critical performance over cost-driven sourcing. Rooks’ procurement portfolio is entirely non-set-aside, with 100% of awards issued under full and open competition. This reflects a strategic prioritization of technical capability, production capacity, and supply chain reliability over socioeconomic classifications, consistent with the high-stakes nature of ordnance and defense industrial base requirements. While small business participation is not formally incentivized through set-asides, the nature of the work often attracts qualified small and mid-tier manufacturers capable of meeting exacting military specifications. His primary focus is NAICS 325920 (Explosives Manufacturing), encompassing the procurement of propellants, detonators, precision munitions components, and specialized machine tools used in ammunition production and ordnance maintenance. His technical expertise lies in the acquisition of classified and controlled defense manufacturing systems, requiring deep familiarity with DoD 5000.02 acquisition policy, defense logistics standards, and secure supply chain protocols for sensitive materiel.