Misty Pounders

Misty Y. Pounders serves as a Contract Specialist within the FA2823 AFTC PZIO under the Department of the Air Force, where she plays a pivotal role in acquiring critical test and evaluation systems for airborne and ground-based sensing, electronic warfare, and signal intelligence platforms. Her responsibilities encompass the full lifecycle of procurement—from market research and solicitation development to contract award and administration—ensuring alignment with aerospace mission readiness objectives. She specializes in complex technical acquisitions involving avionics instrumentation, electromagnetic compatibility systems, and mission-critical communication infrastructure, often navigating stringent DoD compliance requirements and rapid prototyping timelines. Pounders maintains consistent working relationships with a core group of contractors including TOM HAMMONDS ENTERPRISES, LLC, STREET LEGAL INDUSTRIES, INC, SPEEGLE CONSTRUCTION, INC, DETECT INC, and THE CONTROLS COMPANY, LLC. These partnerships reflect a blend of specialized engineering firms, niche system integrators, and infrastructure providers with proven expertise in defense-grade test instrumentation and field-deployable hardware. Her procurement approach emphasizes performance-based outcomes, technical validation, and vendor reliability, fostering long-term collaborations with vendors who demonstrate agility in supporting evolving test range requirements. A strong advocate for small business participation, Pounders consistently prioritizes Total Small Business Set-Asides, with over 53% of her awards designated under FAR 19.5. This reflects a deliberate strategy to cultivate a diverse supplier base capable of delivering innovative, cost-effective solutions in high-precision technical domains. Her contracting patterns align with broader DoD socioeconomic goals, actively engaging small businesses with relevant technical capabilities rather than relying on broad set-asides. Her primary NAICS focus areas include 238210 for electrical and wiring infrastructure, 334220 for wireless communications equipment, and 334515 for precision instrument manufacturing—highlighting her specialization in acquiring components for radar, telemetry, and signal analysis systems. She frequently procures custom-built test fixtures, electromagnetic shielding solutions, and field-deployable measurement devices essential to maintaining operational superiority in contested electromagnetic environments.