Rebecca W. Ban

Rebecca W. Ban serves as Contracts Manager for the FA8620 Aflcmc Wijk Big Safari program under the Department of Defense, where she oversees the acquisition of highly specialized, classified airborne systems designed for special operations and intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) missions. Her role is critical to the agency’s mission of accelerating capability delivery beyond traditional acquisition timelines, managing complex contracts for rapid prototyping, integration, and fielding of modified aircraft platforms—including C-130 and MQ-9 variants—with advanced avionics, sensor suites, and secure communications systems. She navigates the unique challenges of urgent operational requirements, often employing Other Transaction Authorities (OTAs) and streamlined contracting pathways to meet mission-critical deadlines. Rebecca collaborates with a diverse ecosystem of defense prime contractors, systems integrators, and niche technology developers specializing in classified aerospace and electronic warfare domains. While specific vendor names are not publicly disclosed, her procurement patterns reflect close, long-term partnerships with firms possessing Top Secret clearance, experience in military aircraft modification, and expertise in embedded systems and SIGINT/ELINT payloads. Her working relationships emphasize agility, technical fidelity, and compliance with stringent security protocols, fostering trust-based collaborations that enable rapid iteration and fielding. Rebecca’s contracting portfolio reflects a strict focus on open competition, with 100% of awards issued under non-set-aside procedures. She does not prioritize socioeconomic set-asides such as 8(a), HUBZone, or SDVOSB programs, instead prioritizing capability, speed, and mission readiness over socioeconomic criteria, consistent with the classified and time-sensitive nature of Big Safari operations. Her primary procurement focus lies in NAICS 541511 (custom computer programming for mission systems), 511210 (software publishing for defense applications), 334210 (telecommunications equipment for secure comms), and 336411 (aircraft manufacturing and modification). She specializes in procuring embedded software, ruggedized avionics, sensor fusion systems, and aircraft-specific electronic upgrades tailored for ISR and special operations environments.