Kristin A. Thompson

Kristin Thompson serves as a key procurement lead within the FA8621 Aflcmc Wnsk Sims unit of the Department of the Air Force, where she manages complex acquisitions to sustain and modernize advanced aircrew training systems and integrated avionics infrastructure. Her role centers on ensuring operational readiness through the procurement of mission-critical simulation platforms, synthetic training environments, and embedded logistics systems that support high-performance aircraft fleets. Thompson handles a mix of full and open competitions and set-aside contracts, focusing on technical acquisitions that bridge hardware development with software integration to maintain aircrew proficiency and system interoperability across the Air Force’s evolving fleet. She maintains a primary contracting relationship with Lockheed Martin Corporation, partnering on large-scale systems integration efforts for flight simulators, mission rehearsal tools, and avionics modernization programs. Her procurement approach reflects a strategic balance between leveraging the scale and technical depth of prime defense contractors and fostering innovation through small business collaboration. Thompson’s working relationships are characterized by long-term, performance-based contract structures, including cost-plus and fixed-price incentive mechanisms, designed to align vendor capabilities with evolving operational requirements. Thompson’s contracting portfolio reflects an equal split between total small business set-asides under FAR 19.5 and full and open competitions, demonstrating a deliberate commitment to socioeconomic diversity without compromising technical rigor. She consistently prioritizes small business participation, particularly in software development and specialized engineering services, ensuring broad industry engagement while maintaining mission-critical performance standards. Her primary NAICS focus areas are 336411 (Aircraft Manufacturing) and 541511 (Custom Computer Programming Services), reflecting her expertise in procuring both physical training systems—such as embedded flight simulators and cockpit replicas—and the bespoke software platforms that power synthetic training environments. She specializes in acquisitions involving real-time data integration, digital twin technologies, and mission-critical software development tailored to military aviation training domains.