Zachary Garcia

Zachary Garcia serves as a key procurement lead within the Headquarters, Air Force Operational Test and Evaluation Center (AFOTEC), supporting the independent evaluation of mission-critical aerospace, cyber, and command-and-control systems. In this role, he manages acquisition strategies for software-intensive test and evaluation capabilities, ensuring that emerging technologies undergo rigorous, real-world assessment before full-scale deployment. His work directly enables AFOTEC’s mission to validate operational effectiveness and suitability, requiring close coordination with technical stakeholders to define performance requirements and align contracting actions with Air Force modernization priorities. He routinely handles complex, performance-based solicitations for software development, modeling and simulation tools, and data analytics platforms essential to operational test planning and execution. While specific contractor names are not publicly disclosed, Garcia’s procurement patterns reflect a strong emphasis on partnerships with agile, technically proficient vendors capable of delivering secure, scalable software solutions under tight operational timelines. His engagements typically involve firms with proven experience in defense-grade software engineering, DevSecOps practices, and test data management systems, often requiring compliance with DoD SRG, NIST, and RMF standards. He fosters collaborative relationships with vendors who can rapidly iterate in response to evolving test scenarios and fielded system updates. Garcia demonstrates an unwavering commitment to small business participation, with 100% of his acquisitions structured as full small business set-asides under FAR 19.5. This consistent preference ensures that innovative, niche software publishers—particularly those with specialized expertise in defense testing environments—have equitable access to AFOTEC’s mission-critical contracts. His contracting approach actively supports socioeconomic goals by prioritizing small businesses with domain-specific capabilities in software publishing and systems integration. His primary focus lies in NAICS 513210 (Software Publishers), where he procures custom-developed test frameworks, automated evaluation tools, mission data analytics platforms, and secure software suites tailored to Air Force operational test needs. His technical expertise centers on software-enabled test instrumentation, live-virtual-constructive (LVC) simulation environments, and cyber-physical system validation—domains requiring deep integration of commercial-off-the-shelf and government-furnished software architectures.