Aline Smith

Aline Smith serves as a key procurement professional within the Maritime Administration, supporting the agency’s mission to sustain and modernize the nation’s strategic maritime infrastructure. She manages a diverse portfolio of acquisitions focused on vessel maintenance, maritime systems integration, and shore-based support services critical to the readiness of the National Defense Reserve Fleet and the U.S. Merchant Marine. Her work directly enables the operational readiness of deep-sea vessels and training assets, including those at the United States Merchant Marine Academy, through compliant, transparent contracting practices aligned with federal acquisition regulations. Smith maintains a strong working relationship with CONNECTA SATELLITE SOLUTIONS LLC, a primary vendor for maritime communications and satellite-based logistics systems. Her contracting patterns reflect a preference for specialized technology providers with domain expertise in maritime operations, alongside contractors capable of delivering industrial equipment, electrical infrastructure, and marine engineering services. She consistently engages vendors with proven capabilities in shipyard modernization and maritime-grade hardware, fostering long-term partnerships built on technical reliability and regulatory compliance. Aline demonstrates a pronounced commitment to small business participation, with 81.5% of her awards structured as total small business set-asides under FAR 19.5. Her contracting strategy prioritizes inclusive socioeconomic programs, regularly directing opportunities to small disadvantaged businesses, HUBZone firms, and service-disabled veteran-owned small businesses. This pattern underscores a deliberate effort to broaden industry participation and strengthen the maritime supply chain through equitable access. Her primary procurement focus lies in NAICS 336611 (Ship Building and Repairing), reflecting deep expertise in vessel maintenance, dry-dock services, and marine system upgrades. She also procures industrial machinery, electrical installation services, and landscaping for maritime facility upkeep, demonstrating a holistic approach to sustaining the physical and operational integrity of the nation’s maritime assets.