Stephanie Papia

Stephanie Papia serves as a key procurement professional within the FA2293 AFNWC PZHS, a critical unit under the Department of the Air Force responsible for sustaining and modernizing secure military communications infrastructure. She manages acquisitions for advanced satellite communications systems, terminal modernization programs, and strategic messaging platforms, with a focus on ensuring interoperability and resilience across airborne and ground-based command and control networks. Her portfolio centers on high-priority initiatives such as the Family of Advanced Beyond Line-of-Sight Terminals (FAB-T), where she oversees the lifecycle procurement of next-generation hardware, software, and integrated systems to support global military operations. While specific contractor names are not publicly disclosed, Papia consistently engages with a diverse ecosystem of defense contractors specializing in secure communications, systems integration, and cybersecurity-enabled solutions. Her procurement approach emphasizes performance-based contracting and technical validation, fostering long-term partnerships with vendors capable of delivering classified, mission-critical capabilities under strict DoD compliance standards. She prioritizes vendors with proven expertise in rapid prototyping, field-deployable systems, and secure supply chain practices. Papia’s contracting activity is entirely non-set-aside, with 100% of procurements conducted under full and open competition. This reflects the agency’s operational imperative to access the broadest possible technical capabilities without socioeconomic restrictions, prioritizing mission readiness over socioeconomic preferences. While small business participation is not formally incentivized through set-asides, vendors of all sizes must demonstrate technical maturity and compliance with DoD cybersecurity and acquisition regulations. Her primary NAICS focus areas include Computer Systems Design Services (541512), Engineering Services (541330), Electronic Equipment Repair and Maintenance (811210), and Software Publishing (511210), underscoring her expertise in procuring end-to-end solutions for secure communications architectures—from embedded firmware and baseband processing to system-level engineering and field maintenance support.