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 critical role in securing independent operational evaluations of advanced Air Force weapon systems and mission-critical technologies. Responsible for managing the full lifecycle of acquisition programs, she ensures that test and evaluation services meet rigorous DoD standards for effectiveness, suitability, and survivability. Her portfolio primarily encompasses complex, high-stakes acquisitions for aerospace systems, command and control architectures, cyber-enabled platforms, and data analytics tools used in live-fly and simulated operational environments. Windley’s work directly supports AFOTEC’s mission to validate readiness prior to full-rate production and deployment. Windley collaborates with a diverse range of defense contractors, including specialized test and evaluation firms, systems engineering and technical assistance (SETA) providers, and aerospace defense primes with proven expertise in operational testing. Her contracting approach emphasizes long-term partnerships with vendors possessing deep domain knowledge in military test ranges, instrumentation, and mission data analysis. She prioritizes vendors with established track records in delivering objective, unbiased assessments under realistic combat conditions, often working with firms that maintain DoD accreditation for independent test and evaluation. While specific socioeconomic data is not available, Windley’s procurement philosophy aligns with Air Force mandates to maximize small business participation, including 8(a), HUBZone, and SDVOSB certifications, particularly for niche technical services such as test range support, software development for test instrumentation, and data fusion analytics. She actively seeks qualified small businesses capable of delivering specialized test methodologies and analytical capabilities critical to AFOTEC’s mission. Her primary technical focus lies in NAICS categories related to scientific research and development, defense testing services, and information technology systems integration. Windley routinely procures advanced simulation environments, real-time data acquisition systems, cybersecurity test tools, and mission-specific software for operational evaluation, demonstrating deep expertise in the technical domains of aerospace systems testing and cyber-physical system validation.