Susan Starks

Susan Starks serves as a Contracting Officer within the Department of the Air Force’s FA7014 office, where she manages complex procurements critical to sustaining and modernizing Air Force operational readiness. Her portfolio centers on professional services including systems engineering and technical assistance (SETA), cybersecurity infrastructure, enterprise IT modernization, and mission-critical analytics. She plays a pivotal role in aligning acquisition strategies with the Air Force’s strategic priorities, ensuring compliance with federal procurement regulations while delivering high-value, mission-enabling solutions through competitive and compliant contracting mechanisms. Starks maintains strong, recurring relationships with key contractors including SIGMATECH, INC. and Purdue University, reflecting a preference for established partners with deep technical expertise in defense-oriented services. Her contracting patterns demonstrate consistent engagement with both commercial firms offering specialized IT and management consulting and academic institutions providing research-driven technical support. These partnerships are characterized by long-term performance, high levels of technical fidelity, and a shared commitment to mission success across dynamic operational environments. A staunch advocate for small business participation, Starks consistently prioritizes Total Small Business Set-Asides under FAR 19.5, with nearly 59% of her acquisitions reserved for small businesses. Her socioeconomic contracting strategy emphasizes inclusive competition, ensuring broad access for small disadvantaged, woman-owned, and other certified small entities while maintaining rigorous performance standards. This approach reinforces the Department of the Air Force’s commitment to fostering innovation through diverse vendor participation. Her primary NAICS focus areas include Administrative Management and General Management Consulting Services (541611), Computer Systems Design Services (541512), and Computer and Computer Peripheral Equipment Merchant Wholesalers (423430), underscoring her specialization in procurement of enterprise-level IT services, systems integration, and technical advisory support. She routinely sources mission-critical solutions in cybersecurity, data analytics, and systems engineering, ensuring the Air Force remains agile and resilient in an evolving threat landscape.