Paulette SL Windley

Paulette S. Windley serves as a Contracting Officer at Headquarters, Air Force Operational Test and Evaluation Center (AFOTEC), where she plays a pivotal role in securing critical technical services that support the independent evaluation of Air Force weapon systems and mission-critical technologies. Responsible for managing the full lifecycle of acquisition programs, she ensures that test and evaluation capabilities align with operational readiness requirements, focusing on acquisitions that validate the effectiveness, suitability, and survivability of aerospace, command and control, and cyber-enabled systems. Her portfolio primarily encompasses engineering and research services essential to real-world operational testing before full-scale deployment. Windley collaborates with a diverse array of contractors specializing in defense-related engineering and scientific research, including both large defense contractors and small businesses with proven expertise in test planning, systems analysis, and data validation. Her contracting approach emphasizes performance-based outcomes and technical rigor, fostering long-term partnerships with vendors capable of delivering high-integrity, mission-critical support under stringent DoD compliance standards. She maintains a balanced procurement strategy that leverages both established industry players and agile small business innovators. A strong advocate for socioeconomic opportunity, Windley consistently prioritizes small business participation, with approximately two-thirds of her acquisitions set aside under FAR 19.5 for total small business eligibility. Her contracting patterns reflect a deliberate commitment to expanding access for small disadvantaged businesses, HUBZone firms, and other eligible socioeconomic categories, ensuring broad competition and innovation across the defense test and evaluation ecosystem. Her primary procurement focus lies in NAICS 541330 (Engineering Services) and 541712 (Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences), reflecting deep expertise in acquiring technical services for systems engineering, test instrumentation, data analysis, and operational assessment. She routinely procures specialized engineering support, simulation modeling, and developmental testing capabilities critical to validating next-generation Air Force capabilities.