Maria Y. Dillard

Maria Y. Dillard serves as a Contract Specialist within the FA4417 1 Socons under the Department of the Air Force, where she plays a pivotal role in executing mission-critical acquisitions to sustain and modernize airpower capabilities. Her portfolio centers on the procurement of advanced communications systems, aeronautical navigation equipment, and integrated base defense technologies, ensuring operational resilience through secure, high-performance hardware and infrastructure. She manages the full lifecycle of contracts—from solicitation and evaluation to award and administration—supporting the agency’s strategic imperative to maintain technological superiority in contested environments. Dillard maintains consistent working relationships with a core group of contractors including AANTILIA LLC, MARRERO, COUVILLON & ASSOCIATES, L.L.C., MATTHES PARKER LLC, L1 ENTERPRISES INCORPORATED, and WALCO ENTERPRISES INC., all of which provide specialized engineering, manufacturing, and systems integration services. Her procurement approach emphasizes reliability, technical compliance, and performance-based outcomes, fostering long-term vendor partnerships grounded in rigorous oversight and clear deliverables. Her contracting patterns reflect a balanced commitment to socioeconomic goals, with equal emphasis on open competition and Total Small Business Set-Asides under FAR 19.5. She actively promotes small business participation without reliance on 8(a), HUBZone, or SDVOSB-specific set-asides, demonstrating a preference for broad-based small business engagement across technical domains. Dillard’s primary procurement focus lies within NAICS 339999 (All Other Miscellaneous Manufacturing) and NAICS 334290 (Other Communications Equipment Manufacturing), where she acquires custom radio systems, secure wireless transceivers, navigation sensors, and mission-specific electronic assemblies. Her expertise spans the integration of ruggedized, frequency-agile hardware into air operations infrastructure, requiring deep familiarity with MIL-STD specifications, electromagnetic compatibility standards, and defense supply chain protocols.