Steven Pekunece

Steven A. Pekunece serves as a key procurement lead within the FA8102 Aflcmc Wi, a critical unit of the Department of the Air Force responsible for advancing airborne and ground-based sensor systems, secure communications, and mission-critical avionics. He manages complex acquisitions supporting air dominance and integrated defense operations, with a focus on electronic warfare readiness, real-time data fusion, and resilient command and control architectures. His portfolio centers on the development, integration, and sustainment of next-generation detection, navigation, and targeting systems for both manned and unmanned platforms, ensuring technical superiority across contested electromagnetic environments. Pekunece maintains a primary working relationship with BETTER DIRECT, LLC, a contractor frequently engaged for specialized engineering, systems integration, and technical support services. His procurement patterns reflect a preference for established industry partners with proven expertise in avionics modernization, signal processing, and secure data link technologies. He consistently collaborates with vendors capable of delivering rapid prototyping, field-deployable solutions, and end-to-end lifecycle support for high-stakes defense systems. His contracting activity shows no use of socioeconomic set-asides, with 100% of awards issued under full and open competition. This reflects a strategic emphasis on technical capability and mission urgency over socioeconomic preferences, prioritizing performance, speed, and system interoperability above certification-based procurement pathways. While NAICS data is not available, his acquisitions are concentrated in advanced defense electronics, including radar and electro-optical/infrared sensor systems, secure waveform development, and embedded computing platforms. He procures mission-critical components for electronic attack, electronic protection, and intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) payloads, demonstrating deep domain expertise in airborne sensor architectures and integrated electronic warfare suites.