Gabriel Ceniceros

Gabriel Ceniceros serves as a key procurement lead within the FA8809 SDA and Combat Power SSC/SZK-IK, a specialized unit of the Department of the Air Force dedicated to accelerating next-generation space combat power. In this role, he manages the acquisition of advanced research and development initiatives focused on experimental space architectures, resilient satellite systems, and hybrid space-based test platforms. His procurement activities center on rapid prototyping cycles and agile acquisition pathways to field innovative capabilities under tight operational timelines, ensuring alignment with the Space Force’s modernization imperatives. He routinely oversees contracts for systems engineering, modeling and simulation, and prototype integration services critical to advancing space domain awareness and combat power. Ceniceros collaborates with a diverse ecosystem of defense contractors, including prime systems integrators, advanced R&D firms, and specialized aerospace technology providers. While no single contractor dominates his portfolio, his procurement pattern reflects a preference for agile, mission-focused partners capable of rapid iteration and technical innovation in classified and unclassified environments. He fosters collaborative working relationships with vendors that demonstrate proven expertise in space systems engineering, on-orbit experimentation, and adaptive architecture design, often engaging through Other Transaction Authority (OTA) and Other Transaction Agreements to bypass traditional acquisition constraints. Ceniceros maintains a strict focus on open competition, with 100% of his acquisitions issued under the No Set-Aside category. This reflects a mission-driven prioritization of technical capability and speed over socioeconomic preferences, though small businesses are not excluded—only not formally incentivized through set-asides. His contracting approach emphasizes merit-based selection based on technical merit, innovation, and responsiveness to urgent operational needs. His primary procurement focus lies within NAICS 541715, encompassing research and development in physical and engineering sciences. He consistently acquires services related to space system architecture design, experimental payload integration, space test platform development, and advanced propulsion or sensor technologies. His technical domain expertise spans space-based C2 systems, resilient communications architectures, and rapid prototyping of next-generation space assets.