Mandy Sickels

Mandy Sickels serves as a key procurement lead within the FA2486 AFTC PZZC (Eglin), supporting the Department of the Air Force’s mission to accelerate the development and validation of next-generation aerospace systems. She manages complex research and development acquisitions focused on advanced aeronautical technologies, including hypersonic flight systems, fifth-generation datalinks, and hardware-in-the-loop sensor testing. Her work ensures timely delivery of critical engineering services and prototyping capabilities essential to maintaining air dominance through rapid innovation and fielded capability insertion. Sickels maintains a primary working relationship with L1 Enterprises Incorporated, a trusted contractor providing specialized engineering support for flight test instrumentation and systems integration. Her procurement approach emphasizes long-term, performance-based partnerships with vendors possessing deep technical expertise in aerospace R&D, often engaging firms capable of rapid iteration and secure, classified development environments. She favors contractors with proven experience in DoD technical standards and agile development methodologies for high-consequence aerospace programs. Her contracting portfolio reflects a strong commitment to small business participation, with 25% of acquisitions set aside for total small business concerns under FAR 19.5. While the majority of her awards remain open competition, she consistently prioritizes small businesses capable of delivering niche R&D services, aligning with Air Force goals to expand the defense innovation base. Her socioeconomic strategy balances competitive rigor with meaningful access for capable small entities in the advanced engineering sector. Sickels’ procurement focus is exclusively centered on NAICS 541712—Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences—where she procures advanced engineering services, prototype development, and systems integration for cutting-edge aeronautical technologies. Her domain expertise spans flight test support, sensor validation, and embedded systems development, ensuring acquisitions directly enable the Air Force’s technological edge in next-generation airpower.