Celia E. Cockburn

Celia E. Cockburn serves as a Contract Specialist within the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ W076 Endist Galveston office, where she plays a pivotal role in executing complex civil infrastructure procurements aligned with national defense and water resource management objectives. Her responsibilities encompass the full lifecycle of contract actions—from solicitation and evaluation to award and administration—for large-scale heavy civil engineering projects. She specializes in managing acquisitions under FAR Part 36, ensuring compliance with federal construction standards and environmental regulations while supporting mission-critical initiatives such as dredging, channel stabilization, and coastal resilience infrastructure. Cockburn maintains consistent working relationships with a core group of experienced contractors including ORION GOVERNMENT SERVICES LLC, CURTIN MARITIME CORP, THE DUTRA GROUP, CALLAN MARINE LIMITED, and RUSSELL MARINE LLC. These partnerships reflect a preference for vendors with proven expertise in marine construction, heavy equipment operations, and large-diameter pipeline installation. Her procurement approach emphasizes performance-based contracting, requiring rigorous technical proposals and proven track records in challenging aquatic environments, fostering long-term vendor collaboration grounded in reliability and regulatory compliance. Her contracting portfolio reflects a strong preference for open competition, with 84% of awards issued without set-asides, indicating a focus on technical capability over socioeconomic classifications. Nevertheless, she actively supports small business participation through Total Small Business Set-Asides (14%) and HUBZone awards (2%), demonstrating balanced adherence to federal socioeconomic goals while prioritizing mission readiness. Cockburn’s primary procurement focus lies in NAICS 237990 (Other Heavy and Civil Engineering Construction), where she manages dredging, bulkhead construction, and navigation channel improvements. She also oversees related work in power line and communication infrastructure (237130) and institutional construction (236220), demonstrating deep expertise in heavy civil engineering domains critical to the Army Corps’ water infrastructure mission. Her technical acumen ensures acquisitions align with engineering specifications for durability, environmental compliance, and long-term operational resilience.