ken Helgeson

Ken Helgeson serves as a key procurement lead within the FA7000 10 Cons Lgc unit of the Department of the Air Force, supporting the U.S. Air Force Academy’s mission to maintain advanced technical readiness. He manages the acquisition of precision instrumentation, laboratory equipment, and specialized technical systems critical to aerospace research and cadet training programs. His portfolio focuses on high-accuracy measuring devices, data acquisition systems, and facility modernization hardware, ensuring alignment with operational and educational requirements. Helgeson’s work directly enables the sustainment of cutting-edge analytical capabilities essential to Air Force scientific and technical workforce development. He maintains consistent relationships with specialized vendors including SAWASAWA LLC, BERNARD CAP, LLC, TEAL DRONES INC, BRANSCOME OPERATING, LLC, and LAVISION, INC., all of which provide niche technical solutions in instrumentation, unmanned systems, and laboratory-grade measurement technology. His contracting patterns reflect a preference for established small businesses with proven expertise in aerospace and scientific equipment, fostering long-term vendor partnerships built on technical reliability and compliance with federal specifications. Helgeson exhibits a balanced approach to socioeconomic contracting, with approximately half of his awards structured as no set-aside and the other half reserved under the SBA Certified Economically Disadvantaged Women-Owned Small Business (EDWOSB) program. This reflects a deliberate strategy to promote equitable access while maintaining technical rigor, ensuring that qualified small businesses with verified capabilities are prioritized without compromising mission-critical performance standards. His procurement activity is exclusively classified under NAICS 238220 — Plumbing, Heating, and Air-Conditioning Contractors — indicating a specialized focus on integrated environmental control systems, HVAC infrastructure, and facility-level environmental instrumentation for laboratory and training facilities. This unique alignment underscores his expertise in procuring complex, mission-critical building systems that support sensitive technical environments, blending civil works contracting with advanced scientific operational needs.