Charles Harper

Charles Harper serves as a key procurement professional within the Naval Air Warfare Center, supporting the development and fielding of advanced naval aviation systems through strategic acquisition planning. He manages a diverse portfolio of contracts focused on mission-critical electronics, avionics, sensor systems, and communications infrastructure essential to airborne command and control capabilities. His work directly enables the agency’s mission to test, evaluate, and integrate next-generation technologies that enhance maritime and aerial warfare readiness, with a strong emphasis on rapid prototyping, systems integration, and software-defined architectures. Harper maintains consistent working relationships with leading defense contractors including Lockheed Martin Corporation, Jacobs Technology Inc., Science Applications International Corporation, Kranze Technology Solutions Inc., and Teya Support Services LLC. These partnerships span systems engineering, test and evaluation, and specialized electronics manufacturing, reflecting a blend of large prime contractors and niche technical service providers. His procurement approach emphasizes technical rigor, performance-based outcomes, and long-term sustainment planning, ensuring alignment with the Navy’s evolving operational requirements. His contracting strategy reflects a balanced commitment to socioeconomic goals, with approximately half of his acquisitions set aside for small businesses under FAR 19.5, and the other half open to full and open competition. This dual-track approach ensures robust innovation from small firms while maintaining access to the scale and capabilities of established defense contractors. He actively facilitates opportunities for small businesses in high-technology domains, reinforcing the Department of Defense’s mandate for broad-based industry participation. Harper’s primary procurement focus lies in NAICS 334220 (radio and wireless communications equipment) and 334515 (instrumentation for electrical signal measurement), underscoring deep expertise in airborne radar, electronic warfare systems, data link technologies, and precision test and calibration hardware. His acquisitions consistently support the integration of secure, interoperable communication networks and high-fidelity sensor platforms critical to modern naval aviation operations.