Lanora G. Means

Lanora G. Means serves as a Contract Specialist within the U.S. Army Special Operations Command (USASOC), where she plays a pivotal role in executing mission-critical acquisitions that support elite special operations forces. Her responsibilities encompass the full lifecycle of contract management—from solicitation and evaluation to award and administration—focusing on professional development, instructional services, and specialized equipment procurement. She ensures alignment with DoD acquisition regulations and USASOC’s strategic objectives, prioritizing contracts that enhance tactical proficiency, leadership readiness, and doctrinal compliance across unconventional warfare environments. Means maintains established working relationships with key contractors including AMD INTERNATIONAL TECHNOLOGIES LLC, SOF LANDING LLC, TERRESTRIS, LLC, and STRATEGIC SOLUTIONS UNLIMITED, INC., who consistently deliver high-value training, operational support, and technical services tailored to special operations requirements. Her procurement approach emphasizes collaboration with vendors possessing domain-specific expertise in military instruction, mission planning systems, and expeditionary logistics, fostering long-term partnerships grounded in performance reliability and regulatory compliance. Her contracting patterns reflect a strong commitment to small business participation, with nearly two-thirds of awards structured as set-asides. She routinely utilizes Total Small Business Set-Asides (FAR 19.5) and prioritizes Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business (SDVOSB) opportunities, demonstrating a deliberate effort to expand socioeconomic inclusion while maintaining mission readiness. Her portfolio balances compliance with strategic outreach to qualified small businesses capable of delivering agile, specialized solutions. Means focuses primarily on NAICS codes related to miscellaneous instructional services (611699) and shipbuilding and repair (336611), reflecting USASOC’s need for tailored educational programs and maritime operational support. She also procures specialized athletic and sporting goods (339920) and postproduction services (512191) to support training simulations and mission rehearsal environments. Her technical expertise lies at the intersection of military pedagogy, operational logistics, and expeditionary equipment procurement.