Cherri Barksdale

Cherri Barksdale serves as a key procurement professional responsible for managing complex acquisitions in advanced manufacturing and defense-related systems. Her work supports critical national capabilities by overseeing the acquisition of specialized aeronautical instrumentation and powertrain components essential to defense and aerospace operations. She handles full lifecycle contracting actions, from market research and solicitation development to award and contract administration, ensuring compliance with federal acquisition regulations and technical performance requirements. Her role is central to aligning procurement strategy with operational needs across high-technology domains. Her contractor relationships are primarily with prime manufacturers and Tier 1 suppliers specializing in precision engineering and systems integration. She routinely engages with firms possessing deep technical expertise in avionics, navigation systems, and transmission components, fostering partnerships with vendors capable of meeting stringent military specifications. While no single contractor dominates her portfolio, her pattern reflects a preference for established manufacturers with proven track records in quality control, supply chain resilience, and defense-certified production processes. Barksdale’s contracting activity is entirely non-set-aside, reflecting a focus on technical capability and mission-critical performance over socioeconomic preferences. This indicates a procurement approach prioritizing industrial base readiness and system interoperability, where the complexity of the requirements necessitates broad competition among qualified industrial partners rather than targeted small business set-asides. Her pattern suggests alignment with programs where performance, reliability, and scalability outweigh socioeconomic objectives. Her primary procurement focus lies in NAICS 334511 for search, detection, and aeronautical systems, and NAICS 336350 for motor vehicle transmission and powertrain parts. She procures high-precision sensors, guidance systems, and drivetrain components used in military vehicles and aircraft platforms. Her technical domain expertise centers on electromechanical systems, ruggedized electronics, and mission-critical mechanical assemblies requiring compliance with MIL-STD and AS9100 standards.