LaMario B. Cato

LaMario B. Cato serves as a key procurement professional within the Department of the Air Force’s FA7014 office, responsible for managing acquisitions that sustain and modernize Air Force operational readiness. He specializes in securing high-value administrative and management consulting services to support mission-critical functions including systems engineering, technical assistance, and enterprise IT modernization. His role centers on ensuring compliance with federal acquisition regulations while aligning contract awards with the agency’s strategic priorities in cybersecurity, analytics, and defense infrastructure support. Cato typically handles sole-source and competitive procurements under the Administrative Management and General Management Consulting Services NAICS code, ensuring timely delivery of expert advisory services to senior leadership and technical teams. Cato maintains consistent working relationships with established contractors such as SIGMATECH, INC. and PURDUE UNIVERSITY, both of which provide specialized technical and analytical support to Air Force operations. His procurement patterns reflect a preference for experienced, high-capacity vendors with proven track records in defense-sector consulting, systems integration, and research-driven technical assistance. These partnerships are characterized by long-term engagement, performance-based task orders, and deep integration with Air Force mission units, emphasizing quality, continuity, and subject-matter expertise over transactional vendor relationships. Cato’s procurement portfolio reflects a strict non-set-aside approach, with 100% of awards issued under full and open competition. This indicates a focus on technical capability and mission alignment over socioeconomic classifications, prioritizing the selection of the most qualified providers regardless of business size or certification status. While small business participation is not formally incentivized in his portfolio, the agency’s emphasis on mission-critical outcomes ensures that qualified small firms may still compete successfully based on technical merit. His primary procurement focus is on NAICS 541611—Administrative Management and General Management Consulting Services—encompassing strategic planning, process optimization, enterprise architecture, and operational readiness assessments. He consistently acquires services that enhance decision-making, streamline management workflows, and support the modernization of Air Force administrative and technical infrastructures, reinforcing the agency’s commitment to excellence in defense management consulting.