Margaret B. Zerbach

Margaret B. Zerbach serves as a Contract Specialist within the Air Force Research Laboratory’s RDK division (FA9451), where she plays a critical role in executing complex research and development acquisitions aligned with national aerospace security priorities. She manages the full lifecycle of contracts for advanced technologies in directed energy, electro-optics, laser systems, and precision instrumentation, ensuring compliance with federal acquisition regulations while supporting rapid innovation in defense science. Her work directly enables the transition of laboratory breakthroughs into operational aerospace capabilities, requiring deep technical understanding and agile contracting approaches for high-risk, high-reward R&D projects. Zerbach collaborates with a diverse ecosystem of defense contractors, research institutions, and technology innovators, including prime contractors specializing in laser engineering, optical sensor development, and high-power systems integration. Her procurement patterns reflect a preference for established defense aerospace firms with proven R&D track records, as well as emerging firms capable of delivering novel solutions under tight technical and schedule constraints. She fosters collaborative relationships grounded in technical transparency, performance-based outcomes, and iterative prototyping, often utilizing Other Transaction Authorities and research consortia to accelerate capability delivery. Her contracting portfolio is entirely non-set-aside, reflecting the mission-critical and highly specialized nature of RDK’s technical requirements. While she does not prioritize socioeconomic set-asides such as 8(a), HUBZone, or SDVOSB programs, this reflects the unique demand for advanced scientific expertise rather than a lack of small business engagement—small firms with niche capabilities are actively sought when they meet stringent technical thresholds. Zerbach’s primary procurement focus lies in NAICS categories related to scientific research and development, particularly in electro-optical systems, laser technology, and advanced instrumentation. She routinely procures custom-engineered hardware, test and evaluation services, and mission-specific software for directed energy and vulnerability assessment programs, requiring deep domain knowledge in physics-based modeling, laser-matter interaction, and high-energy system integration. Her expertise ensures that acquisitions align precisely with the RDK’s mission to sustain air dominance through next-generation science and technology.