Cheryl Benthall

Cheryl Benthall serves as a key procurement lead at the Naval Research Laboratory, supporting the agency’s mission to advance cutting-edge scientific and technological capabilities for naval and national security. She manages a portfolio of research and development contracts focused on high-precision sensors, electronic warfare systems, signal processing hardware, and autonomous navigation technologies. Her work bridges the gap between foundational R&D and operational capability, ensuring that innovative prototypes are transitioned into viable, field-deployable systems through strategic contracting. She routinely handles complex, technically demanding acquisitions requiring specialized engineering expertise and rapid prototyping cycles. Benthall maintains consistent partnerships with a core group of contractors including Assurance Technology Corp, L3Harris NexGen Communications LLC, Envisioneering Inc, Integration Innovation Inc, and Analex Corporation. These vendors are selected for their proven capabilities in developing advanced instrumentation, embedded systems, and mission-critical software solutions tailored to naval environments. Her contracting approach emphasizes long-term collaboration with firms that demonstrate deep domain expertise in electronic systems integration, signal analysis, and ruggedized hardware design, fostering trusted vendor relationships built on technical reliability and agile delivery. Her procurement strategy is heavily skewed toward small business participation, with 83.3% of awards designated as total small business set-asides under FAR 19.5. This reflects a deliberate commitment to cultivating innovation from niche, agile vendors capable of rapid iteration and specialized technical solutions. She actively prioritizes small businesses with expertise in defense-adjacent sectors, ensuring broad socioeconomic inclusion while maintaining technical rigor. Benthall’s primary NAICS focus areas include Electronic Computer Manufacturing (334111), Analytical Laboratory Instrument Manufacturing (334516), Computer Systems Design Services (541512), Irradiation Apparatus Manufacturing (334517), and Software Publishing (513210). She procures advanced electronic systems, laboratory-grade instrumentation, real-time signal processing software, and radiation-hardened components—reflecting the NRL’s emphasis on next-generation maritime sensing, electronic defense, and autonomous platform integration.