Michelle Pederson

Michelle L. Pederson serves as a Contracting Officer within the Department of the Air Force’s FA7014 office, responsible for managing complex professional services acquisitions that sustain and modernize Air Force operational readiness. She oversees the procurement of mission-critical technical support, including systems engineering and technical assistance (SETA), enterprise IT modernization, cybersecurity infrastructure, and mission analytics. Her portfolio is centered on ensuring timely delivery of high-value, non-commodity services that directly enable Air Force readiness and digital transformation. Pederson applies rigorous acquisition strategy and compliance frameworks to deliver contracts aligned with national defense priorities and federal procurement regulations. She maintains longstanding relationships with key contractors including SIGMATECH, INC. and Purdue University, reflecting a preference for established partners with proven expertise in defense-sector technical services. Her contracting patterns demonstrate consistent engagement with both commercial firms and academic research institutions, indicating a strategic reliance on hybrid vendor models that blend industry innovation with institutional research capabilities. These partnerships are typically structured under indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity (IDIQ) vehicles and cost-reimbursement or time-and-materials contracts to accommodate evolving mission requirements. Pederson’s contracting portfolio exhibits a strong preference for open competition, with 93.3% of awards issued without set-aside designations. While small business participation is limited, she has consistently awarded contracts to Women-Owned Small Businesses, representing 6.7% of her portfolio, aligning with broader Department of Defense socioeconomic goals without prioritizing 8(a), HUBZone, or SDVOSB programs. Her primary procurement focus lies in NAICS codes 541611 (administrative and management consulting), 541511 (custom computer programming), 511210 (software publishing), and 541990 (other professional services), underscoring deep expertise in IT modernization, data analytics, and technical advisory services. She rarely procures non-core services such as hospitality (721110), reinforcing her specialization in defense-critical technical domains.