Terese Herston

Terese Herston serves as a Contracting Officer for the Defense Threat Reduction Agency (HDTRA1), where she plays a pivotal role in executing mission-critical acquisitions to counter weapons of mass destruction and emerging national security threats. She manages a diverse portfolio of contracts spanning scientific research, technical analysis, and operational support systems, ensuring timely delivery of capabilities to detect, deter, and neutralize chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear, and high-yield explosive threats. Her work directly supports HDTRA1’s strategic imperatives in threat intelligence, forensic analysis, and advanced defense technologies, requiring rigorous compliance with federal acquisition regulations and deep technical oversight. Herston maintains longstanding partnerships with leading defense and science contractors, including TECHTRANS INTERNATIONAL INC, BATTELLE MEMORIAL INSTITUTE, AERIS LLC, APPLIED RESEARCH ASSOCIATES, INC., and AMAZON WEB SERVICES, INC. These relationships reflect a preference for high-caliber, mission-aligned vendors with proven expertise in advanced analytics, CBRNE defense systems, cloud-enabled secure infrastructure, and rapid prototyping. Her procurement approach emphasizes performance-based contracting, performance metrics, and risk-managed acquisition strategies to ensure mission readiness and innovation. Herston’s contracting patterns show a consistent preference for full and open competition, with no set-asides applied across her portfolio. This reflects a strategic focus on accessing the broadest possible pool of technical expertise rather than socioeconomic preferences, aligning with HDTRA1’s urgent need for specialized, mission-critical capabilities. While small business participation is not formally prioritized in her awards, she ensures all solicitations are structured to encourage competition from capable firms of all sizes. Her technical domain centers on advanced defense science and engineering services, with acquisitions frequently targeting systems integration, threat modeling, data analytics, secure cloud platforms, and laboratory support for CBRNE detection and mitigation. Her expertise lies in navigating complex technical requirements to deliver high-assurance solutions that meet the Department of Defense’s most sensitive operational needs.