Aaron Smith

Aaron Smith serves as a key procurement lead within Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA HQ), supporting the acquisition and lifecycle management of naval vessels and mission-critical maritime systems. He is instrumental in executing complex shipbuilding and repair contracts aligned with the Department of the Navy’s strategic imperatives for fleet readiness and technological superiority. His portfolio primarily encompasses full-spectrum naval ship construction, modernization, and integration of advanced combat systems, including propulsion, hull systems, and integrated electronics. Working closely with engineering and program management teams, Smith ensures contractual compliance with naval technical specifications and defense acquisition regulations, facilitating the delivery of warfighting platforms that meet evolving operational requirements. Smith maintains sustained contracting relationships with industry leaders such as Huntington Ingalls Incorporated, Northrop Grumman Systems Corporation, Damen Shipbuilding & Cooperation B.V., G.S.E. Dynamics, Inc., and Aerospace & Commercial Technologies, LLC. These partnerships reflect a focus on prime contractors with proven capabilities in naval architecture, shipyard operations, and systems integration. His approach emphasizes long-term vendor collaboration, performance-based contracting, and rigorous oversight to ensure technical fidelity and schedule adherence across multi-year shipbuilding programs. There is no preference for socioeconomic set-asides in his procurement activities; all contracts are competed full and open. This reflects a strategic alignment with NAVSEA’s mission to leverage the broadest possible industrial base for high-complexity, defense-critical platforms, where specialized expertise and scale are paramount. Small business participation is not formally incentivized within his portfolio due to the technical and capacity demands of naval shipbuilding. His primary focus is on NAICS 336611 — Ship Building and Repairing — encompassing the design, construction, repair, and overhaul of surface and undersea vessels. He procures integrated naval systems including hull structures, combat management systems, propulsion trains, and survivability enhancements, demonstrating deep technical fluency in naval engineering standards and defense acquisition frameworks.