Samantha M. Salopek

Samantha M. Salopek serves as a Contract Specialist within the FA2550 50 Cons Pkp unit of the Department of the Air Force, where she plays a pivotal role in executing mission-critical acquisitions for aerospace and space domain systems. Her responsibilities include managing the full lifecycle of contracts for advanced communications infrastructure, electronic instrumentation, and precision testing equipment essential to national defense. She ensures compliance with federal acquisition regulations while aligning procurements with the agency’s strategic goals to modernize satellite telecommunications, ground-based radio systems, and mission-critical electronics. Her portfolio primarily encompasses complex technical acquisitions requiring rigorous technical evaluation and risk mitigation. Salopek maintains contractor relationships with a diverse range of vendors, including the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment and Blue Skies Furniture LLC, reflecting a broad yet targeted approach to sourcing both specialized technical services and ancillary support solutions. While her primary focus is on high-technology systems, she also engages non-traditional contractors to fulfill logistical and administrative needs, demonstrating flexibility in vendor selection without compromising mission integrity. Her working relationships emphasize reliability, regulatory compliance, and performance accountability across all contract types. A strong advocate for socioeconomic opportunity, Salopek consistently prioritizes small business participation, with 50% of her acquisitions structured as Total Small Business Set-Asides under FAR 19.5 and 25% designated as HUBZone set-asides. Her contracting patterns reflect a deliberate strategy to expand the defense industrial base by actively engaging underrepresented small businesses, ensuring equitable access to federal opportunities while maintaining mission readiness. Her procurement focus centers on NAICS 334111 (Electronic Computer Manufacturing) and 334290 (Other Communications Equipment Manufacturing), reflecting deep expertise in procuring embedded systems, RF components, and telemetry hardware. She also manages acquisitions under NAICS 561611 for background investigation services, underscoring her role in securing both technological and personnel integrity for sensitive space and defense operations.