Benjamin C. Riessen

Benjamin Riessen serves as a Contract Specialist with the W4MM USA Joint Munitions Command, a critical component of the Department of Defense responsible for the lifecycle management of conventional ammunition and explosives. In this role, he manages the acquisition and contract administration of complex munitions systems, ensuring operational readiness across land, air, and naval forces. His responsibilities include developing solicitation documents, conducting market research, evaluating technical proposals, and negotiating contracts in compliance with FAR and DFARS requirements. He specializes in procurements tied to the production, storage, and demilitarization of ammunition, working closely with engineering, logistics, and safety teams to align contracting actions with warfighting requirements and supply chain resilience goals. While specific contractor names are not publicly available, Riessen maintains consistent working relationships with defense industrial base suppliers specializing in chemical manufacturing and munitions production. His procurement approach emphasizes technical compliance, quality assurance, and supply chain security, engaging both large defense contractors and specialized niche manufacturers with proven capabilities in high-hazard environments. He fosters collaborative vendor partnerships grounded in performance-based contracting and risk mitigation strategies essential for handling sensitive explosive materials. Riessen’s contracting portfolio reflects a strong preference for open competition, with 84.6% of acquisitions conducted without set-asides. However, he actively supports small business participation, allocating 15.4% of awards to Total Small Business Set-Asides under FAR 19.5, demonstrating a deliberate commitment to expanding the base of qualified defense suppliers without compromising mission-critical performance standards. His primary procurement focus lies in NAICS 325998 (All Other Miscellaneous Chemical Product and Preparation Manufacturing), which accounts for 75% of his activity, and NAICS 332993 (Ammunition Manufacturing, except Small Arms), representing 25%. He specializes in procuring propellants, explosives, fuzing systems, and related chemical formulations, requiring deep technical understanding of hazardous material handling, certification standards, and defense-specific manufacturing protocols.