Garrett C. Gilbertson

Garrett C. Gilbertson serves as a key procurement professional within the FA8823 Sustainment MCPNT SSC/PKL, a critical unit of the Department of the Air Force responsible for sustaining and modernizing aerospace and space-based defense systems. His role centers on managing engineering services contracts that ensure the operational readiness of guided missile systems, satellite communications networks, and global positioning infrastructure. He oversees the full lifecycle of acquisition activities—from requirements definition through contract award and performance management—focusing on technical solutions that maintain mission-critical capabilities in contested and degraded environments. His work directly supports the Air Force’s strategic imperative to preserve space superiority and enable precision navigation and timing for global operations. Gilbertson’s contractor relationships are primarily with engineering services firms possessing deep expertise in systems integration, signal processing, and space systems sustainment. He collaborates with a broad base of defense contractors and technical service providers who deliver advanced engineering support for satellite payloads, ground control systems, and secure communications architectures. While no single vendor dominates his portfolio, his contracting patterns reflect a preference for firms with proven experience in aerospace sustainment, systems engineering, and technical refresh programs for legacy platforms. His procurement approach shows no reliance on socioeconomic set-asides, with 100% of acquisitions conducted under full and open competition. This reflects a mission-driven focus on technical capability over socioeconomic criteria, prioritizing performance, reliability, and rapid fielding over targeted small business preferences. Gilbertson’s primary procurement focus is on NAICS 541330 (Engineering Services), encompassing systems engineering, technical analysis, life-cycle support, and sustainment engineering for space and missile systems. He procures specialized services including payload integration, telemetry and command system modernization, orbital maintenance planning, and cybersecurity hardening of space-based assets, demonstrating deep domain expertise in aerospace sustainment and space domain awareness.