Jason Rathje, Capt, USAF

Captain Jason Rathje, USAF, serves as a key procurement lead within the FA3002 338th ESS CC, supporting the Department of the Air Force’s mission to modernize and sustain advanced aviation training systems for enlisted personnel, officers, and international partners. He manages complex acquisitions centered on high-fidelity flight simulators, mission-critical training infrastructure, and operational readiness systems, ensuring alignment with Air Force-wide modernization goals. His role encompasses full lifecycle contract management—from requirements definition and market research to award and performance oversight—focusing on mission-critical capabilities that enhance pilot and crew proficiency across tactical and strategic domains. Captain Rathje maintains a primary working relationship with CLEARWATERS INDUSTRY SOLUTIONS LLC, a trusted vendor delivering integrated training solutions, systems engineering support, and simulation platform modernization. His contracting patterns reflect a preference for long-term, performance-based partnerships with vendors capable of delivering end-to-end training system sustainment, including hardware integration, software updates, and data-driven analytics for training efficacy. He consistently engages contractors with proven expertise in defense aviation training environments and agile development methodologies. Rathje’s procurement portfolio reflects a 100% non-set-aside orientation, prioritizing technical capability and mission urgency over socioeconomic preferences. While he does not routinely utilize 8(a), HUBZone, or SDVOSB set-asides, his acquisitions remain fully compliant with federal procurement regulations and emphasize best-value outcomes through open competition. His primary NAICS focus spans 928110 (National Security) and 541715 (Research and Development in Physical and Engineering Sciences), reflecting his specialization in defense systems engineering, flight training simulation, and advanced avionics R&D. He procures next-generation training devices, embedded training software, synthetic environment platforms, and mission rehearsal systems that support air superiority and joint force readiness. His technical expertise lies at the intersection of aerospace engineering, human-machine interface design, and operational training analytics.