Chief ASHLEY CRUZ

Em1 Ashley Cruz serves as a key procurement lead at U.S. Coast Guard Base Miami (70Z028), responsible for managing acquisitions that sustain critical maritime infrastructure and ensure operational readiness. They oversee the full lifecycle of contracts supporting facility maintenance, environmental remediation, and civil works construction essential to national security missions, including search and rescue and port safety operations. Their portfolio focuses on mission-critical services that preserve aging maritime assets and enhance base resilience, aligning closely with the agency’s strategic priorities in infrastructure modernization and environmental compliance. Cruz maintains consistent partnerships with a select group of specialized contractors, including MCKENZIE CONSTRUCTION & SITE DEVELOPMENT LLC, PHOENIX MARINE LLC, ATZ SOLUTION LLC, and COMMERCIAL BLUE INC, each bringing niche expertise in marine construction, facility upgrades, and environmental services. Their contracting approach emphasizes long-term vendor collaboration, leveraging proven performance and technical proficiency in complex coastal and waterfront environments. These relationships are built on reliability, compliance with federal construction standards, and demonstrated capacity to deliver under demanding operational timelines. A defining feature of Cruz’s procurement strategy is a 100% small business set-aside preference under FAR 19.5, reflecting a strong institutional commitment to socioeconomic diversity and equitable contracting. All acquisitions are structured to maximize opportunities for small businesses, including those certified under HUBZone, 8(a), and SDB programs, fostering a robust ecosystem of qualified local and regional vendors capable of supporting Coast Guard mission needs. Cruz’s primary procurement focus centers on NAICS 236220 (commercial and institutional building construction), 237110 (water and sewer infrastructure), 562910 (remediation services), and 561730 (landscaping services). Their technical domain expertise spans marine construction, hazardous material abatement, stormwater management, and coastal landscaping—all vital to maintaining functional, compliant, and resilient Coast Guard facilities in high-humidity, saltwater-exposed environments.