Mark Settles

Mark Settles serves as a key procurement lead within the Department of the Air Force’s FA7014 office, responsible for managing complex acquisitions in administrative and general management consulting services. He plays a critical role in advancing the agency’s mission to sustain operational readiness through expert technical and managerial support, primarily overseeing contracts for Systems Engineering and Technical Assistance (SETA), enterprise IT modernization, and mission-critical analytics. His acquisitions are strategically aligned with high-priority Air Force initiatives requiring specialized advisory services to optimize workforce performance, streamline operations, and enhance decision-making capabilities across mission-critical domains. Settles maintains longstanding partnerships with SIGMATECH, INC. and Purdue University, both of which provide high-caliber consulting and technical support services. His procurement pattern reflects a preference for established, non-traditional contractors with deep domain expertise in defense-sector management systems and research-driven advisory capabilities. These relationships are characterized by sustained, multi-year engagements that emphasize performance-based outcomes, continuous improvement, and alignment with Air Force strategic objectives. Settles does not utilize socioeconomic set-asides, with 100% of his acquisitions conducted under full and open competition. This reflects a deliberate focus on securing the highest-tier subject matter expertise regardless of vendor size or certification status, prioritizing technical capability and mission fit over socioeconomic preferences. His approach underscores a results-driven procurement philosophy centered on mission effectiveness rather than compliance-based contracting. His procurement activity is exclusively focused on NAICS 541611—Administrative Management and General Management Consulting Services—supporting a broad spectrum of professional services including process optimization, organizational design, workforce planning, and systems integration consulting. He consistently procures advanced analytical and strategic advisory services to support the Air Force’s evolving command, control, and logistics modernization imperatives.