Karen D. Wagner

Karen D. Wagner serves as a Contracting Officer for the Air Force Test Center’s PZZD division at Eglin Air Force Base, where she manages the acquisition of advanced airborne systems, guided missile technologies, and mission-critical avionics to support test, evaluation, and operational readiness. Her portfolio centers on high-priority defense programs involving rapid prototyping, live-fire testing, and threat simulation capabilities. Wagner oversees the full lifecycle of complex procurements—from solicitation and source selection to contract award and administration—ensuring compliance with FAR and DFARS while aligning acquisitions with the Air Force’s strategic modernization goals in sensing, navigation, and electronic warfare. She maintains a strong working relationship with Wavelink Inc., a primary contractor supporting integrated avionics and systems engineering services. Her contracting patterns reflect a preference for established industry partners with proven expertise in defense aerospace systems, while maintaining rigorous oversight of performance, technical compliance, and delivery timelines. Wagner’s approach emphasizes mission-critical delivery over volume, fostering long-term vendor partnerships grounded in technical reliability and responsive support. While the majority of her acquisitions—80.5%—are conducted without set-asides, she actively supports socioeconomic programs, with notable participation from Total Small Business Set-Asides (9.8%), 8(a) competed contracts (7.3%), and Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Businesses (2.4%). This balanced approach ensures competitive access while maintaining the technical rigor required for high-stakes defense systems. Her primary procurement focus lies in NAICS 334511, encompassing the development and integration of aeronautical navigation, guidance, and sensing systems. She also frequently procures custom computer programming services (541511), computer systems design (541512), and specialized ammunition manufacturing (332993), reflecting deep expertise in electronic warfare, software-defined systems, and armament integration. Wagner’s work directly enables the Air Force’s next-generation test and evaluation infrastructure.