Michael Chappell Jr

Michael Chappell Jr. serves as a primary contracting professional within the Air Force’s FA8126 agency, responsible for managing complex procurements that sustain and modernize critical aerospace and defense infrastructure. He oversees the acquisition of high-reliability analytical instrumentation, precision manufacturing equipment, and industrial maintenance services essential to test, evaluation, and operational readiness missions. His work directly supports the Department of the Air Force’s strategic imperatives in advancing measurement systems and industrial capabilities for airborne and ground-based platforms. Chappell maintains consistent procurement relationships with a core group of specialized vendors, including Vortex Systems LLC, Illinois Tool Works Inc., CM Buck & Associates Inc., Blanchard Training & Development Inc., and Technical Communities, Inc. These partnerships reflect a preference for contractors with deep expertise in laboratory analytics, industrial machinery repair, and technical training services. His contracting approach emphasizes long-term vendor collaboration, ensuring technical alignment with mission-critical specifications and compliance with stringent aerospace quality standards. A strong advocate for small business participation, Chappell consistently structures acquisitions with a 53.3% total small business set-aside rate under FAR 19.5, demonstrating a deliberate commitment to socioeconomic contracting goals. While no set-aside remains a significant component of his portfolio, he actively prioritizes small business eligibility and leverages set-asides to foster innovation and resilience within the defense industrial base. His procurement focus centers on NAICS 334516 (analytical laboratory instrument manufacturing), 334515 (instrumentation for electrical signal measurement), 333912 (air and gas compressor manufacturing), 811310 (industrial machinery repair), and 332999 (miscellaneous fabricated metal products). These categories reflect his technical expertise in procuring precision measurement devices, specialized test equipment, and mission-critical industrial systems that underpin Air Force testing, maintenance, and operational sustainment activities.