Taylor Meade, Program Manager

Taylor Meade serves as Program Manager for the FA8625 Aflcmc Wlnk C130 under the Department of the Air Force, overseeing the sustainment, modernization, and expansion of the C-130J Hercules tactical airlift fleet. Responsible for end-to-end acquisition lifecycle management, Meade directs complex contracts for avionics integration, defensive countermeasures, structural enhancements, and engine upgrades critical to maintaining global operational readiness in contested environments. Their procurement portfolio centers on high-technology aerospace systems requiring rigorous compliance with military specifications and lifecycle support requirements, ensuring mission-critical capabilities remain viable against evolving threats. Meade’s contractor relationships are primarily with prime defense aerospace manufacturers specializing in military aircraft modification and systems integration. While specific vendor names are not disclosed, the acquisition pattern indicates sustained engagement with Tier 1 contractors possessing AS9100 certification, ITAR compliance, and proven experience in C-130 platform upgrades. These partnerships are characterized by long-term, performance-based contract structures including cost-plus, fixed-price incentive, and indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity (IDIQ) mechanisms designed to support continuous modernization cycles and rapid technology insertion. Meade’s contracting activity exhibits a 100% preference for non-set-aside procurements, reflecting the technical complexity, security requirements, and industrial base constraints inherent in C-130J sustainment. While small business participation is not formally prioritized through 8(a), HUBZone, or SDVOSB set-asides, the program maintains compliance with all applicable small business subcontracting goals through prime contractor obligations under FAR Part 19. The program’s procurement activity is exclusively focused on NAICS 336411 — Aircraft Manufacturing — with deep specialization in military transport aircraft systems. Acquisitions include integrated mission computers, radar warning receivers, infrared countermeasures, composite structural components, and upgraded turboprop engines, requiring expertise in military aerospace engineering, MIL-STD compliance, and logistics support planning. Meade’s technical domain expertise lies in the convergence of avionics modernization, platform survivability, and operational sustainment for tactical airlift missions.