Tabitha Haggart

Tabitha Haggart serves as the primary contracting lead for the Air Force Research Laboratory’s RIKO office (FA8751), where she oversees the acquisition of advanced aerospace and electronic systems critical to next-generation air and space dominance. Her portfolio centers on high-performance instrumentation, semiconductor devices, and AI-enabled command and control technologies, with a focus on survivable, autonomous platforms. She manages complex R&D contracts spanning early-stage innovation through prototype development and limited production, ensuring alignment with AFRL’s strategic priorities in quantum sensing, signal processing, and resilient communications. Haggart’s acquisitions are mission-critical, often involving classified or controlled technical data, and require close coordination with technical leads and cybersecurity stakeholders. She maintains sustained relationships with leading technology innovators including SCALE AI, INC., CADENCE DESIGN SYSTEMS INC., and Noisy Labs GmbH, reflecting a preference for partners with deep expertise in AI-driven signal analysis, electronic design automation, and advanced sensor development. Her contracting approach emphasizes collaboration with firms possessing niche technical capabilities in high-speed electronics and embedded systems, often engaging non-traditional defense contractors and international entities with proven R&D agility. These partnerships are typically structured as Other Transaction Authority (OTA) agreements or Broad Agency Announcements to accelerate innovation cycles. Haggart’s procurement strategy prioritizes open competition, with 68.9% of awards issued without set-aside restrictions, while maintaining a robust 31.1% commitment to total small business set-asides under FAR 19.5. She consistently supports small business participation without favoring specific socioeconomic categories, instead focusing on technical capability and readiness to deliver rapid prototypes. This balanced approach ensures access to innovative solutions while preserving flexibility in a rapidly evolving technological landscape. Her primary NAICS focus areas include 334515 (instrumentation for electrical signal measurement) and 334516 (analytical laboratory instruments), with additional emphasis on 334220 for wireless communications equipment and 511210 for software publishing related to signal processing algorithms. She procures cutting-edge hardware and software systems for sensing, telemetry, and autonomous decision-making, demonstrating deep technical fluency in electronic warfare, RF systems, and AI-integrated testbed environments.