Cheryl A. Abele

Cheryl A. Abele serves as a Contract Specialist at the Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division (NAWCAD), where she plays a pivotal role in executing complex acquisitions that support the development, testing, and sustainment of advanced naval aviation systems. Her responsibilities encompass the full lifecycle of procurement—from market research and solicitation development to contract award and administration—focusing on high-technical, mission-critical avionics, flight control systems, diagnostic instrumentation, and support technologies essential to naval airpower readiness. She operates within a framework governed by FAR and DFARS, ensuring compliance while delivering timely, cost-effective solutions to meet urgent operational requirements. Cheryl maintains longstanding relationships with leading defense contractors including Lockheed Martin Corporation, BAE Systems Information and Electronic Systems Integration Inc., and PCI Aviation LLC, among others. These partnerships are characterized by deep technical collaboration, often involving custom engineering solutions for specialized aircraft systems. Her contracting approach emphasizes performance-based outcomes, technical validation, and rigorous oversight, fostering trust with prime contractors who deliver integrated hardware, software, and test infrastructure critical to naval aviation modernization. Her procurement portfolio reflects a strong preference for full and open competition, with 96% of awards issued without set-aside designations. While small business participation is limited to approximately 4%, it is strategically directed toward Total Small Business Set-Asides under FAR 19.5, indicating a measured but intentional commitment to expanding opportunities for qualified small entities without compromising mission-critical performance standards. Cheryl’s primary NAICS focus areas include 336413 (Other Aircraft Parts and Auxiliary Equipment Manufacturing), 511210 (Software Publishers), 541990 (Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services), 334111 (Electronic Computer Manufacturing), and 334515 (Instrument Manufacturing for Measuring and Testing Electricity and Electrical Signals). She routinely procures advanced avionics, embedded software, test and diagnostic equipment, and specialized engineering services that enable the integration, validation, and sustainment of next-generation naval aircraft systems.