Sarah Hatch

Sarah Hatch serves as a Contracts Negotiator within the U.S. Special Operations Command (USSOCOM), where she plays a pivotal role in securing mission-critical technologies that enhance the operational superiority of special operations forces. She specializes in negotiating complex, high-stakes acquisitions under the Aircraft Manufacturing NAICS code 336411, focusing on advanced avionics, integrated sensor suites, electro-optical systems, and rapid-prototyped platforms tailored for austere environments. Her work directly supports USSOCOM’s mandate to deliver field-deployable, next-generation capabilities through agile contracting methods, including Other Transaction Authorities and experimental procurement pathways. Hatch ensures contractual terms align with technical specifications, performance metrics, and rapid fielding timelines essential to special operations readiness. While specific contractor names are not publicly disclosed, Hatch maintains strategic relationships with a select group of defense prime contractors and Tier 1 aerospace systems integrators experienced in classified and unclassified special operations platforms. Her negotiation style emphasizes performance-based outcomes, technical risk mitigation, and lifecycle support obligations, fostering long-term vendor partnerships grounded in innovation, compliance, and mission alignment. She frequently engages with firms possessing ITAR and DD2345 certifications, ensuring secure supply chains and export-controlled technology transfer protocols are rigorously upheld. Hatch’s contracting portfolio reflects a strong preference for open competition, with 100% of her acquisitions classified as “No Set-Aside.” This reflects USSOCOM’s operational urgency and the specialized nature of the technologies procured, which often require advanced engineering capabilities beyond the scope of most small business concerns. While socioeconomic set-asides are not utilized, she ensures all procurements adhere to federal transparency and fair competition standards. Her primary industry focus is on aircraft manufacturing, particularly platforms integrating advanced communications, night vision, targeting pods, and unmanned aerial systems. She possesses deep technical fluency in electro-optical/infrared (EO/IR) sensor fusion, secure data links, and modular open systems architecture (MOSA), enabling her to evaluate technical proposals with precision and negotiate deliverables that meet the extreme demands of special operations missions.