Marie Kuhn

Marie Kuhn serves as a key procurement lead within the FA2518 USSF SPOC/SAIO, supporting the Department of the Air Force’s mission to modernize space domain capabilities through specialized engineering and technical services. She manages acquisitions for advanced space-based surveillance, satellite communications, and electromagnetic warfare systems, ensuring operational resilience in contested environments. Her portfolio emphasizes research and development contracts aligned with space domain awareness, signal intelligence, and secure telecommunications infrastructure, often requiring high-assurance, low-latency system integration and mission-critical testing protocols. Kuhn maintains sustained working relationships with leading defense and aerospace contractors including Keystone Mission Solutions Corp, Riverside Research Institute, and Bowhead Information Technology Service LLC. These partnerships are characterized by long-term, performance-based engagements focused on systems engineering, technical analysis, and rapid prototyping of next-generation space capabilities. Her contracting approach prioritizes mission-critical innovation, leveraging contractor expertise in secure data fusion, signal processing, and space architecture design to meet evolving operational demands. Her procurement strategy reflects a strong preference for open competition, with 81.8% of awards issued under no set-aside status, indicating a focus on technical capability over socioeconomic categorization. However, she consistently supports Women-Owned Small Business participation, with 18.2% of contracts awarded to WOSB firms, demonstrating a balanced commitment to both mission readiness and socioeconomic diversity in the contractor base. Kuhn’s primary procurement focus lies in NAICS 541715 (Research and Development in Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences), reflecting deep engagement in advanced space systems R&D. She also regularly procures professional training services (NAICS 611430), systems design (NAICS 541512), and management consulting (NAICS 541611) to support workforce development and program execution. Her expertise centers on acquiring mission-enabling technologies for space operations, including secure satellite payloads, RF sensing systems, and space situational awareness tools.