Todd Cress

Todd Cress serves as a key procurement lead within the FA8223 Aflcmc Wldk, supporting the Department of the Air Force’s mission to sustain and modernize aircrew training systems for the KC-135 aerial refueling fleet. He manages the acquisition of specialized aviation training equipment, including mission-specific simulators, avionics integration components, and auxiliary training hardware essential to maintaining operational readiness. His work directly enables the lifecycle extension of legacy training infrastructure through technically complex, performance-based contracts that emphasize system interoperability and curriculum-aligned capability upgrades. Cress operates at the intersection of engineering requirements and acquisition execution, ensuring that training systems meet rigorous Air Force standards for fidelity, reliability, and maintainability. While specific contractor names are not publicly available, Cress engages with a narrow ecosystem of defense aerospace suppliers specializing in advanced flight simulation and aircraft subsystem manufacturing. His contracting patterns reflect long-term partnerships with firms possessing deep domain expertise in military training systems, often requiring ITAR compliance, security clearances, and certified quality management systems. He prioritizes vendors with proven experience in integrating hardware-software ecosystems for crew training environments, favoring suppliers capable of rapid prototyping and sustained technical support. Cress’s procurement portfolio exhibits a 100% preference for non-set-aside contracts, indicating a focus on technical capability over socioeconomic preferences. This reflects the specialized nature of the required equipment, where only a limited pool of qualified suppliers meets the stringent performance and certification thresholds. While small business participation is not formally prioritized, all procurements remain compliant with federal acquisition regulations. His primary procurement focus lies in NAICS 336413—Other Aircraft Parts and Auxiliary Equipment Manufacturing—centered on custom-built training devices, cockpit mockups, mission rehearsal systems, and embedded training modules. Cress possesses deep technical expertise in aviation training architecture, including synthetic environment integration, real-time data streaming, and human-machine interface design for legacy platform modernization.