Tuyet H Bailey

Marie L. Hickox serves as a Contracting Officer within the Missile Defense Agency, where she plays a pivotal role in securing critical capabilities to advance the nation’s ballistic and hypersonic missile defense systems. Responsible for managing the full lifecycle of complex acquisitions, she oversees contracts for sensor architectures, interceptor systems, command and control software, and integrated test infrastructure. Her work directly supports the MDA’s mission to field layered, interoperable defense solutions through rapid prototyping, developmental testing, and operational evaluation. Hickox specializes in performance-based, fixed-price and cost-reimbursement contracts that emphasize technical innovation, system integration, and rigorous risk mitigation. While specific contractor names are not available, Hickox routinely engages with prime defense contractors and systems integrators possessing deep expertise in aerospace engineering, radar signal processing, and real-time battle management. Her procurement patterns reflect a preference for partners with proven experience in Department of Defense test ranges, missile flight dynamics, and secure communications networks. She fosters collaborative relationships with vendors capable of delivering high-assurance software, hardware-in-the-loop simulations, and classified test instrumentation under strict ITAR and FedRAMP compliance frameworks. Though set-aside data is not currently available, Hickox operates within the MDA’s broader mandate to maximize small business participation across the defense industrial base. She actively promotes opportunities for 8(a), HUBZone, and SDVOSB firms with niche capabilities in advanced materials, embedded systems, and cybersecurity for defense platforms, ensuring socioeconomic goals are integrated into acquisition planning without compromising mission-critical performance. Her industry focus centers on NAICS categories related to aerospace product and parts manufacturing, defense systems integration, and scientific R&D services. Hickox routinely procures advanced electro-optical sensors, kinetic interceptors, battle management software, and hypersonic threat simulation tools, demonstrating specialized expertise in systems engineering, test and evaluation contracting, and acquisition of classified defense technologies.