Thomas "Duane" Keller

Thomas "Duane" Keller serves as a Contracting Officer within the Missile Defense Agency (MDA), where he plays a pivotal role in executing strategic acquisitions to advance the nation’s layered ballistic missile defense capabilities. Responsible for managing the full lifecycle of complex R&D and systems integration contracts, Keller ensures compliance with Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement (DFARS) requirements while aligning procurements with MDA’s mission to develop, test, and field advanced interceptors, sensors, and battle management systems. His portfolio primarily encompasses engineering services, technical research, and prototype development for midcourse and terminal-phase defense architectures, supporting the agency’s push for next-generation missile defense technologies. Keller maintains enduring partnerships with leading defense prime contractors, including Lockheed Martin Corporation and Northrop Grumman Systems Corporation, who provide critical systems integration, radar modernization, and guided weapon development. He also collaborates regularly with Jacobs Technology Inc. for technical support and mission analysis services. His contracting approach emphasizes performance-based outcomes, risk-sharing agreements, and technical collaboration, fostering long-term vendor alignment with MDA’s evolving operational requirements. A staunch advocate for small business participation, Keller consistently structures solicitations under the Total Small Business Set-Aside authority (FAR 19.5), ensuring that all procurements are reserved exclusively for small businesses. This reflects a deliberate and sustained commitment to socioeconomic equity, enabling emerging defense innovators to contribute meaningfully to national security programs without competition from large entities. His procurement focus is exclusively centered on NAICS 541712—Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (except Biotechnology)—reflecting his deep engagement with advanced engineering research, modeling and simulation, sensor fusion, and guidance system innovation. Keller’s work directly supports the development of cutting-edge missile defense technologies, requiring rigorous technical oversight and a nuanced understanding of aerospace systems engineering and defense acquisition policy.