Capt. PAULA P. SMITH

Paula P. Smith serves as a Contracting Officer at the Headquarters of Air Combat Command’s Acquisition Management Integration Center (FA4890), where she plays a pivotal role in procuring mission-critical systems that sustain and modernize air dominance capabilities. She manages complex acquisitions for advanced training systems, command and control infrastructure, and technical services essential to pilot readiness, surveillance, and tactical communications. Her portfolio emphasizes integrated acquisition solutions that align with the Department of the Air Force’s strategic imperatives for combat-ready forces, ensuring timely delivery of high-performance capabilities through full and open competition and targeted set-asides. Smith maintains established relationships with key contractors including VETPRIDE-EMI Maintenance Solutions, LLC, MILTRAIN JV II LLC, and JBW FEDITC JV LLC, reflecting a pattern of collaboration with joint ventures and specialized service providers experienced in aerospace maintenance, simulation training, and mission support. Her contracting approach prioritizes performance-based outcomes and long-term operational sustainability, often leveraging multi-year, performance-based service contracts to ensure continuity and mission alignment. Her procurement strategy reflects a balanced commitment to socioeconomic goals, with approximately one-third of her awards structured as Total Small Business Set-Asides under FAR 19.5, demonstrating consistent support for small business participation without reliance on specialized programs like 8(a) or HUBZone. This reflects a preference for broad-based small business engagement across technical service sectors. Smith’s primary NAICS focus spans 334511 for aeronautical system manufacturing, 488190 for air transportation support, and 561210 for facilities support services, underscoring her expertise in procuring navigation and guidance systems, aviation maintenance support, and base infrastructure services. Her technical domain expertise lies at the intersection of operational readiness and integrated logistics, ensuring acquisitions directly enhance air combat effectiveness.