Tabatha McRae Cooper

Tabatha McRae Cooper serves as a key procurement professional within the FA8552 Aflcmc Wiu, a unit of the Department of the Air Force responsible for sustaining and modernizing critical aviation systems. She manages the acquisition of specialized engineering services, advanced avionics, and mission-critical aircraft components essential to maintaining operational readiness of military platforms. Her work directly supports the agency’s mission to enhance pilot situational awareness and ensure the reliability of next-generation aerospace systems through end-to-end contract lifecycle management, including requirements definition, source selection, and performance oversight. While specific contractor names are not currently available, her procurement patterns indicate consistent engagement with firms specializing in aircraft manufacturing, avionics integration, and aerospace maintenance services. She cultivates partnerships with both large-tier defense contractors and niche suppliers capable of delivering high-reliability components under strict military specifications, often requiring AS9100 certification and ITAR compliance. Her approach emphasizes technical rigor, supply chain resilience, and lifecycle cost efficiency in sourcing mission-essential systems. Cooper’s contracting portfolio reflects a strong preference for open competition, with 87.5% of acquisitions conducted without set-asides, aligning with the agency’s need for broad technical capability. However, she actively supports small business participation, with 12.5% of awards designated as total small business set-asides under FAR 19.5, demonstrating a balanced commitment to fostering innovation from qualified small vendors without compromising mission-critical performance standards. Her primary procurement focus lies in NAICS 811219 (aviation maintenance and repair), 336411 (aircraft manufacturing), and 336413 (aircraft parts and auxiliary equipment), with additional emphasis on 334511 for search, navigation, and guidance systems. She routinely procures integrated avionics suites, flight control subsystems, radar-compatible components, and mission computer hardware, underscoring deep expertise in aerospace systems engineering and defense acquisition policy.