Blake Strickland

Blake Strickland serves as a key procurement professional within the Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR), supporting the lifecycle acquisition and sustainment of naval aviation systems for the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps. He manages complex contracting actions for advanced aircraft platforms, avionics, and mission-critical support systems, ensuring alignment with NAVAIR’s strategic modernization goals. His work spans the full acquisition lifecycle—from requirements definition through contract award and performance oversight—focusing on high-priority programs that maintain air superiority and expeditionary readiness. Strickland’s portfolio emphasizes technical integration, logistics support, and systems sustainment for carrier-based and land-based aviation assets. Strickland maintains established working relationships with industry leaders including Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation, Lockheed Martin Corporation, and General Atomics, partnering primarily with prime contractors capable of delivering integrated aerospace solutions. His procurement approach prioritizes long-term vendor collaboration with firms possessing deep expertise in military aircraft manufacturing, flight systems integration, and maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) services. He consistently engages with contractors capable of meeting stringent defense specifications and rapid fielding timelines, fostering performance-based contracting models that emphasize reliability and operational readiness. Strickland’s contracting patterns reflect a strong preference for open competition, with over 90% of awards issued under no set-aside provisions. While small business participation is limited, he does allocate approximately 9% of awards to Total Small Business Set-Asides under FAR 19.5, demonstrating a measured but intentional commitment to small business engagement within a high-technology, low-volume acquisition environment. His approach prioritizes capability over socioeconomic designation, aligning with NAVAIR’s mission-critical requirements. His primary procurement focus lies in NAICS 336411 (Aircraft Manufacturing) and 336413 (Other Aircraft Parts and Auxiliary Equipment Manufacturing), driving acquisitions of manned and unmanned aerial systems, propulsion components, flight control systems, and mission-specific avionics. Strickland’s expertise centers on advanced military aviation platforms, including rotary-wing, fixed-wing, and unmanned aerial vehicles, with deep familiarity in defense aerospace engineering standards and defense acquisition regulation compliance.