Maria Coleman

Maria Coleman serves as a Contract Specialist within the U.S. Special Operations Command (USSOCOM), where she plays a pivotal role in executing mission-critical acquisitions that support the technological superiority of elite special operations forces. She manages the full lifecycle of contracts for advanced electro-optical systems, tactical communications platforms, and rapid prototyping initiatives, ensuring timely delivery of field-deployable capabilities aligned with USSOCOM’s innovation-driven mission. Her work directly enables the command’s focus on technical experimentation and accelerated acquisition cycles, bridging operational needs with responsive contracting solutions under FAR and DFARS frameworks. Coleman collaborates with a diverse ecosystem of defense contractors, including prime systems integrators and specialized technology developers focused on secure communications, night vision, and sensor fusion. While no single contractor dominates her portfolio, she consistently engages firms with proven expertise in rapid prototyping, agile software development, and ruggedized hardware integration. Her contracting approach emphasizes performance-based outcomes, technical risk mitigation, and iterative delivery models to meet the dynamic demands of special operations environments. Her procurement activity reflects a strong preference for unrestricted competition, with 100% of her awards issued under no set-aside conditions. This indicates a strategic focus on maximizing technical capability and innovation over socioeconomic preferences, prioritizing mission readiness and performance over socioeconomic categorizations in her acquisition decisions. Coleman’s primary procurement focus lies in NAICS 511210 (Software Publishers), reflecting her heavy emphasis on mission-critical software systems, embedded firmware, and AI-enabled decision tools. She also regularly procures engineering services under NAICS 541330, particularly for systems integration, electronic warfare support, and field-deployable sensor architectures. Her domain expertise centers on next-generation tactical technologies that enhance situational awareness, secure data transmission, and real-time battlefield interoperability.