Cheryle H. Lankford

Cheryle H. Lankford serves as a Contract Negotiator with specialized expertise in aerospace and aircraft manufacturing acquisitions. In this role, she plays a critical part in the agency’s procurement mission by leading complex contract negotiations, ensuring compliance with federal acquisition regulations, and securing technically sound solutions that meet mission-critical operational requirements. Her portfolio is exclusively focused on the procurement of aircraft systems and related manufacturing services, requiring deep technical understanding of aviation standards, production workflows, and defense-grade quality controls. She interfaces with prime contractors and subcontractors to structure performance-based contracts that balance risk, innovation, and fiscal responsibility. Lankford maintains strategic relationships with a select group of prime contractors specializing in aircraft manufacturing, including firms with proven capabilities in airframe assembly, propulsion systems, and avionics integration. Her negotiation approach emphasizes long-term vendor partnerships grounded in transparency, performance metrics, and supply chain resilience. She routinely engages with manufacturers holding AS9100 certification and other industry-specific quality accreditations, ensuring contractual alignment with aerospace best practices and regulatory compliance. Her contracting patterns reflect a strong preference for unrestricted competition, with 100% of her acquisitions categorized as “No Set-Aside.” This indicates a focus on technical merit and industrial capacity over socioeconomic preferences, prioritizing mission readiness and production scalability. While she does not routinely utilize 8(a), HUBZone, or SDVOSB set-asides, her approach ensures fair and open competition among qualified industrial base participants. Lankford’s primary NAICS focus is 336411—Aircraft Manufacturing—where she procures everything from commercial and military airframes to specialized components and assembly systems. Her domain expertise spans aerodynamic design, materials science, and production line automation, making her a key liaison between engineering teams and procurement stakeholders in the aerospace sector.