Paula McMillan

Paula McMillan serves as a key procurement lead within the Office of Acquisition Management under the Drug Enforcement Administration, supporting the Department of Justice’s mission to secure and modernize critical law enforcement infrastructure. She manages the acquisition of advanced digital communications systems, encrypted surveillance platforms, and secure data transmission technologies essential for real-time intelligence operations. Her work ensures that federal drug enforcement units have reliable, tamper-resistant tools for field operations, with a strong emphasis on cybersecurity compliance and interoperability across federal, state, and local agencies. McMillan specializes in end-to-end contract lifecycle management for high-sensitivity technical systems, coordinating requirements development, source selection, and post-award performance oversight. Her contracting approach prioritizes partnerships with small businesses, consistently directing 100% of her acquisitions toward small business set-asides under FAR 19.5. She actively engages with a broad network of certified small contractors, including those designated as 8(a), HUBZone, and SDVOSB firms, fostering long-term vendor relationships built on technical capability and compliance with federal security standards. McMillan’s procurement strategy emphasizes building a resilient small business supply base capable of meeting the DEA’s evolving operational needs without reliance on large prime contractors. Her primary focus is on NAICS code 511210, which encompasses software publishing and the development of specialized communications and data processing applications. She procures secure messaging platforms, encrypted radio integration systems, digital forensics software, and custom-built intelligence analytics tools designed for law enforcement use. Her technical expertise lies in secure information systems, network resilience, and mission-critical software deployment, ensuring all acquisitions meet stringent DOJ and NIST security controls. McMillan’s work directly enables the DEA’s ability to conduct covert, data-driven investigations with operational integrity and legal defensibility.