Richard D. Elmore

Richard D. Elmore serves as a key procurement lead within U.S. Special Operations Command (USSOCOM), responsible for managing mission-critical technology acquisitions that directly support the operational readiness of elite special operations forces. He specializes in the acquisition of custom software solutions and mission-specific programming services essential to modernizing tactical communications, sensor integration, and electro-optical systems. His procurement activities are tightly aligned with USSOCOM’s mandate to accelerate the development and fielding of cutting-edge, field-deployable technologies through rapid prototyping and agile development cycles. Elmore’s portfolio is exclusively focused on software-centric contracts that enable real-time data fusion, secure battlefield networking, and adaptive mission planning tools. Elmore maintains a contractor ecosystem composed primarily of specialized defense technology firms and software development houses with proven expertise in secure, low-latency systems architecture. He routinely engages vendors capable of delivering classified, DoD-compliant custom programming services under strict compliance frameworks such as NIST SP 800-53 and RMF. His working relationships are characterized by deep technical collaboration, with contractors often embedded in operational environments to support iterative development and rapid feedback loops. While no single vendor dominates his award profile, he consistently partners with firms demonstrating agility, cybersecurity certification, and prior experience supporting SOF missions. Elmore’s contracting activity shows no use of socioeconomic set-asides, with 100% of awards issued under full and open competition. This reflects USSOCOM’s operational imperative to prioritize technical capability and speed over socioeconomic preferences, ensuring that the most qualified and mission-ready providers are selected without restriction. His approach underscores a mission-first procurement philosophy, where performance, security, and rapid delivery outweigh traditional small business targeting criteria. His primary focus is NAICS 541511—Custom Computer Programming Services—encompassing the development of tailored software for real-time intelligence processing, secure comms networks, night vision system integration, and AI-enabled decision aids. He procures services that enable adaptive, modular software stacks capable of operating in denied, degraded, or contested environments, making him a central figure in USSOCOM’s pursuit of technological superiority across all domains.