Gary F. Ethridge

Gary F. Ethridge serves as a Contracting Officer within the FA8773 Acc 38 Cons agency under the Department of the Air Force, where he manages mission-critical acquisitions supporting cyberspace operations, space security, and secure IT infrastructure. His portfolio focuses on procuring advanced telecommunications equipment, custom software development, and hardened computing systems essential for high-tempo cyber and space mission readiness. Ethridge ensures compliance with federal acquisition regulations while aligning contract strategies with the agency’s objective to maintain operational superiority in contested digital domains. He routinely handles sole-source, competitive, and sealed-bid procurements for classified and unclassified technical systems requiring stringent cybersecurity controls. Ethridge maintains a sustained working relationship with Aerospace & Commercial Technologies, LLC, a primary vendor for specialized cyber-enabling hardware and secure communications solutions. His contracting approach emphasizes performance-based outcomes and technical interoperability, favoring partners with proven experience in DoD cyber environments and compliance with NIST SP 800-53 and RMF frameworks. He engages vendors through structured source selection processes, prioritizing technical capability, past performance, and supply chain resilience over cost alone. His contracting patterns reflect a balanced commitment to small business participation, with 40% of awards structured as Total Small Business Set-Asides under FAR 19.5. While the majority of acquisitions are open to all competitors, Ethridge consistently leverages small business set-asides to foster innovation from emerging defense technology providers, ensuring diverse vendor participation without compromising mission requirements. Ethridge’s primary procurement focus lies in NAICS 334210 (Telephone Apparatus Manufacturing) for secure voice and data transmission systems, 541511 (Custom Computer Programming Services) for mission-specific cyber tools, and 334112 (Computer Storage Device Manufacturing) for encrypted data storage platforms. He frequently procures hardened computing hardware, secure network appliances, and tailored software solutions that support classified training environments and space-based command and control systems, demonstrating deep expertise in defense-grade IT infrastructure procurement.