Ricardo Jones

Ricardo Jones serves as the primary contracting professional for FA8520 AFLCMC EBUK, a critical unit within the Department of the Air Force responsible for sustaining and modernizing air-launched weapon systems and mission-critical aerospace components. He manages the full lifecycle acquisition process for guided missiles, ordnance, avionics, and launcher systems, ensuring operational readiness through depot-level sustainment and technological advancement. His portfolio encompasses complex defense procurements requiring stringent technical compliance, including engineering services, precision munitions integration, and aerospace component manufacturing, all aligned with the agency’s strategic priorities in next-generation aerospace capabilities. Jones maintains a consistent working relationship with RAYTHEON COMPANY as the dominant contractor, reflecting a long-standing partnership in the development and sustainment of advanced air-launched systems. His procurement approach emphasizes deep technical collaboration with prime contractors possessing proven expertise in missile guidance, warhead integration, and avionics modernization. While the majority of contracts are awarded through full and open competition, his office engages in structured vendor coordination to ensure technical alignment, performance reliability, and rapid fielding of mission-critical capabilities. His set-aside preferences show a strong emphasis on open competition, with 93.1% of awards issued without socioeconomic set-asides, indicating a priority for technical capability over socioeconomic classification. Nevertheless, he supports a modest but consistent 6.9% allocation to Total Small Business Set-Asides under FAR 19.5, reflecting a measured commitment to small business participation where technical requirements permit. Jones’s procurement focus centers on NAICS 541330 (Engineering Services) and 334511 (Aeronautical System and Instrument Manufacturing), underscoring his expertise in precision guidance systems, sensor integration, and aerospace component production. He frequently procures mission-critical avionics, munitions control units, and auxiliary aircraft equipment, demonstrating deep domain knowledge in defense aerospace systems and lifecycle sustainment engineering.