Diana Whilding

Diana Whilding serves as a key procurement professional within the FA8622 Aflcmc Azs Epass unit of the Department of the Air Force, supporting the life cycle management of high-priority aerospace platforms including the F-16, F-22, and Survivable Airborne Operations Center. She manages complex technical acquisitions centered on engineering services, systems integration, and specialized manufacturing critical to sustaining advanced Air Force capabilities. Her portfolio encompasses research-driven contracts requiring deep technical oversight, particularly in avionics, airborne systems, and mission-critical component development, ensuring alignment with Air Force modernization priorities and defense acquisition regulations. Whilding collaborates with a diverse base of contractors specializing in aerospace manufacturing, precision engineering, and advanced materials, though no single vendor dominates her award profile. Her contracting patterns reflect a preference for technical expertise over scale, engaging both large defense primes and niche suppliers with specialized capabilities in aircraft subsystems and mission-critical instrumentation. She maintains a performance-based contracting approach, emphasizing deliverables tied to systems engineering milestones and technical validation protocols. While the majority of her acquisitions—88.2%—are unrestricted, Whilding consistently allocates 11.8% of her portfolio to Total Small Business Set-Asides under FAR 19.5, demonstrating a deliberate commitment to small business participation without favoring specific socioeconomic categories like 8(a), HUBZone, or SDVOSB. Her approach prioritizes capability over certification, ensuring small firms with niche technical expertise have equitable access to high-value, mission-critical contracts. Her primary NAICS focus areas include 336413 (Other Aircraft Parts and Auxiliary Equipment Manufacturing), 339999 (All Other Miscellaneous Manufacturing), and 339113 (Surgical Appliance and Supplies Manufacturing), reflecting an unusual but mission-aligned blend of aerospace and biomedical manufacturing capabilities. She procures specialized components ranging from flight-critical avionics housings to ruggedized environmental control systems, demonstrating expertise in dual-use technologies and complex supply chain management for classified and unclassified aerospace platforms.