Karen Cusson

Karen Cusson serves as a contracting professional within the FA4861 99 Cons Lgc unit of the Department of the Air Force, where she supports the acquisition of mission-critical communications, surveillance, and command-and-control systems essential to sustaining airpower readiness. Her role involves managing complex procurements for advanced broadcasting infrastructure, specialized equipment maintenance, and secure facility modernization projects aligned with Air Force operational requirements. She interfaces with industry to ensure timely delivery of technically sophisticated solutions that meet stringent defense standards, with a focus on sustaining legacy systems while integrating next-generation capabilities. Cusson engages with a diverse pool of vendors, including prime contractors specializing in defense communications, electronic systems integration, and technical services firms with DoD clearance. While specific contractor names are not publicly enumerated, her procurement patterns indicate consistent collaboration with firms possessing expertise in aerospace-grade instrumentation, secure RF systems, and mission-critical maintenance services. Her working relationships reflect a preference for vendors with proven performance in high-assurance environments and demonstrated ability to comply with FAR and DFARS regulatory frameworks. Her contracting approach prioritizes broad market access, with 76.9% of acquisitions conducted as unrestricted opportunities. Nevertheless, she actively supports small business participation, allocating 15.4% of opportunities as total small business set-asides under FAR 19.5, with additional allocations to HUBZone and Women-Owned Small Business concerns, reflecting a balanced commitment to socioeconomic goals without compromising mission needs. Cusson’s primary procurement focus lies in NAICS 334516 (analytical laboratory instrument manufacturing) and 339112 (surgical and medical instrument manufacturing), indicating a unique intersection of defense and biomedical technical domains. She also frequently procures specialized testing equipment, precision instrumentation, and maintenance services for high-reliability systems, demonstrating expertise in dual-use technologies that serve both military and public health infrastructure requirements.