Monique Esquibel Sena

Monique Esquibel Sena serves as a Contracting Officer within the Air Force Research Laboratory’s RDK division (FA9451), where she leads the acquisition of advanced research and development services critical to national defense. Her portfolio centers on high-priority technical initiatives in directed energy, electro-optics, laser systems, and advanced instrumentation, ensuring the rapid transition of cutting-edge scientific innovations into operational aerospace capabilities. She manages complex sole-source and competitive procurements under FAR and DFARS guidelines, often navigating classified and sensitive R&D environments requiring specialized security clearances and technical oversight. Her contractor relationships are primarily with defense technology firms, academic research institutions, and engineering service providers possessing deep expertise in physical and engineering sciences. She collaborates closely with vendors capable of delivering prototype development, systems integration, and laboratory validation services, often requiring proprietary technical capabilities and secure facility access. Her procurement approach emphasizes technical merit, innovation readiness, and mission alignment over cost alone, fostering long-term partnerships with contractors who demonstrate sustained excellence in high-risk R&D environments. Ms. Sena’s contracting activity reflects a strong preference for open competition, with 100% of her acquisitions conducted under non-set-aside authorities. While she does not routinely utilize 8(a), HUBZone, or SDVOSB set-asides, she ensures compliance with all socioeconomic requirements and actively considers small business capabilities when they meet the stringent technical demands of RDK’s mission. Her approach prioritizes capability over socioeconomic designation, aligning with the lab’s focus on mission-critical technological superiority. Her primary NAICS classification is 541715, reflecting her exclusive focus on research and development in the physical, engineering, and life sciences. She procures services including laser vulnerability testing, optical system modeling, high-energy beam diagnostics, and advanced sensor prototyping, working with vendors who possess specialized laboratories, computational modeling expertise, and experience in DoD-funded scientific programs. Her domain expertise spans laser physics, photonics, and aerospace instrumentation, making her a key enabler of next-generation air dominance technologies.