Tina Panasci

Tina Panasci serves as a Contract Specialist within the FA8750 AFRl Rik, a critical research and development hub under the Department of the Air Force. In this role, she manages the full lifecycle of complex acquisition programs focused on advancing next-generation aerospace and defense technologies, including autonomous systems, resilient communications, AI-driven battle-space awareness, and quantum-enabled platforms. Her responsibilities encompass solicitation development, source selection, contract negotiation, and post-award administration for high-priority scientific and engineering R&D initiatives. She plays a pivotal role in aligning procurement strategy with the agency’s mission to deliver foundational innovations that enable future warfighting capabilities. Panasci maintains sustained working relationships with leading defense and aerospace contractors, including Booz Allen Hamilton, Lockheed Martin, Eaton Corporation, Technergetics, LLC, and Caelight, Inc. These partnerships are characterized by deep technical collaboration, often involving custom-engineered solutions for classified and unclassified R&D environments. Her procurement approach emphasizes performance-based contracting and technical merit evaluation, fostering long-term vendor engagement with firms capable of delivering cutting-edge capabilities across physics, engineering, and computational domains. Her contracting portfolio reflects a strong preference for open competition, with 100% of awards issued without socioeconomic set-asides, indicating a focus on technical capability over socioeconomic criteria. While small business participation is not formally prioritized through set-aside programs, her engagements include both large prime contractors and specialized small firms, particularly those with niche expertise in advanced systems design. Her primary NAICS focus is on 541715 (Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences), which constitutes 70% of her portfolio, followed by 541512 (Computer Systems Design Services) and 541712. She routinely procures services related to experimental physics, systems modeling, sensor development, and AI/ML algorithm prototyping, demonstrating deep domain expertise in defense-critical scientific innovation.