Adin Kern

Adin Kern serves as a key procurement professional within the Missile Defense Agency, supporting the acquisition of advanced missile defense systems and related research and development capabilities. Responsible for managing complex technical contracts aligned with MDA’s mission to field layered, multi-phase interception architectures, Kern oversees the procurement of cutting-edge sensor technologies, guidance systems, and battle management software. Their work directly enables the integration of kinetic and non-kinetic defense solutions across midcourse and terminal-phase operational domains, ensuring alignment with national security imperatives and technological readiness goals. Kern maintains consistent contracting relationships with leading defense prime contractors including Lockheed Martin Corporation and Northrop Grumman Systems Corporation, leveraging their deep expertise in missile defense system integration, radar modernization, and command-and-control platforms. Jacobs Technology Inc. is also a recurring partner, providing engineering, test, and analytical support services. These partnerships reflect a pattern of sustained collaboration with industry leaders capable of delivering high-assurance, mission-critical systems under stringent performance and security requirements. A defining feature of Kern’s procurement strategy is a 100% preference for small business set-asides under FAR 19.5, reflecting a strong institutional commitment to broadening participation among small, innovative firms. This approach ensures that emerging technologies and niche capabilities from small businesses are integrated into the nation’s missile defense architecture, fostering competition and accelerating innovation across the defense industrial base. The primary NAICS classification underpinning Kern’s portfolio is 541715—Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences—indicating a sharp focus on advanced R&D in hypersonic defense, sensor fusion, and intercept vehicle guidance. Procurements center on prototype development, systems engineering, modeling and simulation, and live-fire test support, all aimed at advancing next-generation missile defense architectures through science-driven acquisition practices.