Dustin Sandell

Dustin Sandell serves as a key procurement lead within the FA8656 Aflcmc Ebx, a critical unit under the Department of the Air Force responsible for accelerating the development and fielding of next-generation strike systems. His role centers on managing complex acquisitions for advanced missile systems, hypersonic cruise weapons, and precision-guided ammunition, ensuring seamless integration with air platforms. He oversees the full lifecycle of contract actions—from requirements definition and source selection to contract award and performance monitoring—supporting the agency’s mission to rapidly deliver high-priority, technologically advanced munitions to the warfighter. His acquisitions are characterized by tight timelines, high technical rigor, and close collaboration with engineering and test teams to align procurement with operational needs. Sandell’s contractor relationships are primarily with defense industrial base firms possessing deep expertise in guided munitions manufacturing, propulsion systems, and warhead integration. He engages with a select group of Tier 1 aerospace and defense primes and specialized subcontractors capable of meeting stringent performance, security, and production scalability requirements. His working pattern emphasizes long-term, performance-based partnerships with vendors who demonstrate proven capability in hypersonic and precision strike technologies, often leveraging Other Transaction Authority (OTA) and prototyping authorities to accelerate delivery timelines. Sandell’s procurement portfolio shows no set-aside preferences, with 100% of awards issued under full and open competition. This reflects the highly specialized nature of the technologies involved and the limited pool of qualified industrial partners capable of meeting the technical and security demands of national defense missile programs. While small business participation is not formally prioritized through socioeconomic set-asides, vendor eligibility is determined strictly by technical maturity and production capacity. His primary procurement focus is centered on NAICS 332993—Ammunition (except Small Arms) Manufacturing—encompassing guided missile components, warhead assemblies, and advanced propulsion systems. He specializes in procuring high-energy, solid-fueled munitions, inertial and GPS-guided warheads, and integrated flight control systems, requiring deep domain knowledge in ordnance engineering, materials science, and systems integration for air-launched platforms.