Catherine Wendt

Catherine Wendt serves as a key procurement professional within the Strategic Systems Programs (N00030) office of the Department of the Navy, supporting the lifecycle management of the U.S. Navy’s sea-based strategic deterrent systems. She is responsible for managing complex engineering and systems integration contracts that ensure the reliability, security, and operational readiness of submarine-launched ballistic missiles and associated command, control, and communication infrastructure. Her acquisitions focus on mission-critical systems engineering, test and evaluation, and weapons integration services, requiring deep technical oversight and compliance with stringent national security standards. Wendt maintains longstanding relationships with prime contractors including Lockheed Martin Corporation, Northrop Grumman Systems Corporation, General Dynamics Mission Systems, Inc., Systems Planning and Analysis, Inc., and JRC Integrated Systems, LLC. These partnerships are characterized by sustained, high-trust collaboration on multi-year, high-complexity programs involving advanced propulsion systems, nuclear command and control architectures, and secure communications networks. Her contracting approach emphasizes technical rigor, risk mitigation, and performance-based acquisition strategies aligned with DoD best practices. Wendt’s procurement portfolio exhibits no set-aside preferences, with 100% of awards issued under full and open competition. This reflects the highly specialized nature of strategic deterrent systems, which demand proven technical capability, security clearances, and industrial base readiness typically found only among large, cleared defense contractors with established heritage in nuclear deterrence programs. Her primary focus is on NAICS 541330 (Engineering Services), encompassing systems engineering, integration, test, and analysis for nuclear weapons systems. She procures advanced technical services including weapons integration, survivability analysis, electromagnetic compatibility testing, and secure software development for classified environments, demonstrating deep expertise in the domain of strategic deterrence and nuclear systems engineering.