Lacey Hocutt, Contract Specialist

Lacey Hocutt serves as a Contract Specialist within the W6QK AATD Contract Office under the Department of the Army, where she plays a pivotal role in executing procurements that advance next-generation defense technologies. Her work centers on acquiring research, development, and systems integration services critical to aeronautical systems, adaptive avionics, and tactical communications infrastructure. She manages complex acquisition cycles for high-priority R&D initiatives, ensuring alignment with Army modernization goals and compliance with federal acquisition regulations. Her portfolio includes both competitive and sole-source contracts, often involving technical specifications requiring deep engineering and scientific expertise. Hocutt collaborates with a diverse ecosystem of contractors, including research institutions, software publishers, and flight training providers, fostering partnerships that bridge academia, industry, and government innovation. While no single contractor dominates her portfolio, she routinely engages universities, defense technology firms, and specialized systems integrators capable of delivering cutting-edge solutions in avionics and digital warfare systems. Her contracting approach emphasizes technical rigor, performance-based outcomes, and rigorous source selection criteria to ensure mission-critical capabilities are delivered with accountability and innovation. Hocutt demonstrates a strong preference for open competition, with 85.7% of her acquisitions conducted without set-asides, reflecting a focus on technical merit and capability over socioeconomic classifications. Nevertheless, she consistently allocates 14.3% of her contracting activity to Total Small Business Set-Asides under FAR 19.5, actively supporting small businesses with proven expertise in engineering sciences and defense-relevant software development. Her socioeconomic strategy balances broad competition with targeted opportunities for qualified small businesses capable of meeting demanding technical requirements. Her primary procurement focus lies in NAICS 541715 (R&D in physical and engineering sciences), with significant activity in flight training (611512), software publishing (513210), and higher education (611310). She procures advanced simulation systems, real-time avionics software, mission-critical algorithms, and training platforms that directly enhance soldier readiness and battlefield communications. Her domain expertise spans embedded systems, digital signal processing, and secure communications architectures, making her a key enabler of the Army’s technological edge.