Ashton Wagler

Ashton Wagler serves as a secondary procurement professional within the Naval Surface Warfare Center, Crane Division (N00164), supporting the Department of the Navy’s mission to develop, test, and sustain advanced electronic, electro-optical, and ordnance systems for naval warfare. While not the lead contracting officer, Wagler plays a critical role in facilitating acquisition execution, coordinating requirements validation, and ensuring compliance with defense procurement regulations for technical and logistics contracts. Their work primarily supports complex systems procurement involving signal processing, radar detection, electronic warfare, and munitions sustainment, often interfacing with engineering and program management teams to align contractual deliverables with operational needs. Wagler maintains consistent working relationships with key contractors including Lockheed Martin Corporation, Programs Management Analytics & Technologies Inc., Integrity Defense Services Inc., Black Hills Ammunition Inc., and McKenzie Construction & Site Development LLC. These partnerships reflect a mix of high-technology defense contractors, specialized systems integrators, and niche industrial support vendors. The procurement patterns indicate a preference for established industry partners with proven capabilities in defense-grade electronics, ordnance manufacturing, and mission-critical infrastructure, suggesting a focus on reliability, security, and technical maturity in vendor selection. Set-aside preferences show a strong emphasis on open competition, with 92.3% of acquisitions conducted without socioeconomic set-asides. The remaining 7.7% are awarded under total small business set-asides per FAR 19.5, indicating a measured but deliberate engagement with small businesses—primarily when technical scope aligns with their capacity. This reflects a mission-driven approach that prioritizes capability over socioeconomic targets, while still maintaining compliance with federal small business goals. The procurement portfolio is heavily concentrated in NAICS 332994 (Small Arms, Ordnance, and Ordnance Accessories Manufacturing) and 334511 (Search, Detection, Navigation, Guidance, Aeronautical, and Nautical System and Instrument Manufacturing), underscoring deep expertise in munitions systems, precision targeting components, and electronic warfare instrumentation. Wagler’s work directly supports the development and sustainment of mission-critical naval systems requiring rigorous testing, compliance with MIL-SPEC standards, and integration into expeditionary and surface combat platforms.