April S Shupe

April S. Shupe serves as a Contract Specialist at the Naval Air Warfare Center Air Division, where she plays a pivotal role in executing complex acquisition strategies to support the development, testing, and sustainment of advanced naval aviation systems. Her responsibilities include managing the full lifecycle of engineering and technical service contracts, ensuring compliance with federal acquisition regulations, and aligning procurement outcomes with the agency’s mission to modernize airborne sensor suites, electronic warfare systems, and mission-critical avionics. She specializes in performance-based, requirements-driven acquisitions for high-technology defense platforms, frequently engaging in sole-source and competitive negotiations for mission-critical engineering services. Shupe maintains consistent working relationships with leading defense contractors including SABRE SYSTEMS, LLC, THE BOEING COMPANY, SCIENCE APPLICATIONS INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION, SYSTEMS PLANNING AND ANALYSIS, INC., and ONTIC ENGINEERING & MANUFACTURING, INC. These partnerships are characterized by long-term, technically intensive engagements focused on systems integration, flight test support, and avionics modernization. Her contracting approach emphasizes technical rigor, risk mitigation, and performance accountability, fostering collaborative relationships with prime contractors who deliver specialized aerospace engineering solutions under stringent military specifications. Her procurement portfolio reflects a 100% preference for open, non-set-aside competitions, indicating a strategic focus on technical capability over socioeconomic classifications. While she does not prioritize 8(a), HUBZone, or SDVOSB set-asides, her approach ensures that awards are driven by technical merit, past performance, and mission-critical expertise, aligning with the Navy’s urgent need for rapid innovation in airborne systems. Shupe’s primary NAICS focus is 541330 (Engineering Services), underscoring her specialization in procuring advanced engineering support for avionics, communications, navigation, and electronic warfare subsystems. She routinely manages contracts for systems engineering, technical analysis, prototype development, and flight test instrumentation—domains requiring deep domain knowledge in military aerospace engineering and defense systems integration.