Karina Zubiate

Karina Zubiate serves as a Contract Specialist within the Air Force Research Laboratory’s RDK division (FA9451), supporting the development and acquisition of advanced technologies critical to national security and air dominance. She manages the full lifecycle of procurements for research, engineering, and technical services focused on directed energy, electro-optics, laser systems, and advanced instrumentation. Her role ensures compliance with federal acquisition regulations while aligning contracting strategies with the RDK’s mission to pioneer next-generation aerospace capabilities. She routinely handles complex R&D contracts, test and evaluation services, and specialized maintenance agreements requiring technical expertise and rigorous oversight. Karina collaborates with a diverse array of contractors, including defense technology firms, engineering service providers, and specialized training organizations. While no single vendor dominates her portfolio, her contracting patterns reflect a preference for agile, technically proficient partners capable of supporting high-risk, high-reward R&D initiatives. She works closely with vendors possessing deep domain knowledge in laser vulnerability analysis, optical system integration, and laboratory instrumentation, fostering partnerships that prioritize innovation, rapid prototyping, and mission-critical delivery timelines. Karina demonstrates a strong commitment to socioeconomic contracting, with the majority of her acquisitions conducted under open competition (81.8%), yet she consistently integrates small business participation through Total Small Business Set-Asides and 8(a) competed awards, each accounting for 9.1% of her portfolio. Her approach reflects a balanced strategy—prioritizing technical excellence while actively promoting opportunities for certified small disadvantaged businesses and other socioeconomically advantaged vendors in alignment with DoD and FAR mandates. Her primary procurement focus centers on NAICS 811310 (commercial and industrial machinery repair and maintenance), NAICS 611430 (professional and management development training), and NAICS 493190 (other warehousing and storage), indicating a strong emphasis on sustaining complex technical infrastructure, delivering specialized workforce training, and managing logistics for experimental systems. These categories underscore her expertise in procuring mission-enabling services that support the operational readiness of advanced aerospace research programs.