Maria E. Mann

Maria E. Chavez-Mann serves as a Contracting Officer within the FA8823 Sustainment MCPNT SSC/PKL under the Department of the Air Force, where she plays a pivotal role in securing critical aerospace and space-based sustainment capabilities. She manages the full lifecycle of complex acquisitions for guided missile systems, satellite communications platforms, and command, control, and communications infrastructure essential to national defense. Her portfolio encompasses sole-source, competitive, and indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contracts, with a focus on maintaining operational readiness of global positioning systems and space-based assets. Chavez-Mann ensures compliance with federal acquisition regulations while aligning procurement outcomes with strategic modernization goals. Chavez-Mann collaborates with a diverse array of defense contractors specializing in aerospace engineering, systems integration, and mission-critical sustainment services. While no single vendor dominates her portfolio, she consistently engages with Tier 1 defense primes and niche technology providers possessing specialized expertise in space systems maintenance, RF communications, and secure data links. Her contracting approach emphasizes performance-based outcomes, risk mitigation, and long-term lifecycle support, fostering stable, results-driven partnerships with vendors capable of delivering high-reliability solutions under demanding operational conditions. Chavez-Mann’s procurement patterns reflect a strong preference for full and open competition, with 100% of her acquisitions conducted without set-asides. This reflects the technical complexity and national security sensitivity of the systems she supports, where specialized capabilities often require qualified, non-traditional defense contractors. While small business participation is not formally prioritized through socioeconomic set-asides, she ensures equitable access for all eligible firms through transparent solicitation practices and clear performance requirements. Her primary technical focus lies in NAICS categories related to aerospace product and parts manufacturing, defense contracting, and satellite communications services. She procures advanced navigation systems, secure satellite transponders, ground control interfaces, and embedded firmware for space vehicle platforms, demonstrating deep expertise in space domain sustainment and mission-critical system lifecycle management.