Catherine B. Cartwright

Catherine B. Cartwright serves as a key procurement lead within the U.S. Army Contracting Command – Detroit Arsenal (ACC-DTA), responsible for managing complex acquisitions of ground combat systems and enabling technologies critical to modernizing Army tactical forces. Her work centers on securing armored vehicles, integrated ordnance systems, and survivable battlefield platforms that enhance soldier lethality and mobility. She executes full lifecycle contracting actions—from solicitation through award and administration—ensuring compliance with Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement requirements while aligning procurements with the Army’s strategic modernization priorities, including rapid prototyping and fielding of next-generation capabilities. Cartwright maintains consistent relationships with a core group of prime contractors, including BAE SYSTEMS LAND & ARMAMENTS L.P., MURTECH, INC., BAY SHIP & YACHT CO, JAPAN MARINE UNITED CORPORATION, and PROFESSIONAL CONTRACT SERVICES, INC. These partnerships reflect a preference for established defense industrial base vendors with proven expertise in armored vehicle manufacturing, ordnance integration, and specialized engineering services. Her contracting approach emphasizes technical rigor, performance accountability, and supply chain resilience, often involving long-term, high-complexity contracts requiring rigorous testing and field validation. Cartwright’s procurement portfolio reflects a strict focus on open competition, with 100% of awards issued under no set-aside classifications. This indicates a deliberate emphasis on leveraging the full capabilities of the defense industrial base without socioeconomic restrictions, prioritizing technical merit, production capacity, and mission readiness over small business set-asides or special certification programs. Her primary technical domain is NAICS 336992—Military Armored Vehicle, Tank, and Tank Component Manufacturing—where she specializes in procuring advanced combat platforms, turret systems, armor packages, and associated subsystems. Her expertise lies in managing acquisitions involving high-integrity materials, ballistic protection technologies, and integrated weapon systems, ensuring that all contracted solutions meet stringent Army survivability and interoperability standards for current and future battlefields.