Christopher W Howard

Christopher W. Howard supports the Naval Undersea Warfare Center’s mission to advance undersea warfare technologies through strategic procurement of specialized engineering and technical services. Though his official title is not listed, his procurement activities center on acquiring advanced sensor systems, ruggedized computing platforms, and electronic warfare instrumentation critical to submarine and unmanned undersea vehicle operations. He manages a diverse portfolio of contracts spanning research, development, testing, and sustainment, ensuring alignment with the Navy’s technological superiority goals in sonar, signal processing, and underwater navigation systems. Howard maintains consistent working relationships with a select group of contractors including Ordnance Technology Service, Inc., Boh Environmental, L.L.C., and Aerospace & Commercial Technologies, LLC, which provide specialized technical support, environmental compliance, and mission-critical electronics. His procurement patterns reflect a preference for established vendors with proven expertise in defense-grade instrumentation and undersea system integration, suggesting a focus on reliability, compliance, and long-term sustainment rather than open-market competition. His contracting approach prioritizes non-set-aside awards at 76.5%, with 23.5% allocated to total small business set-asides under FAR 19.5, indicating a balanced but not heavily socioeconomically targeted strategy. While he does not heavily utilize 8(a), HUBZone, or SDVOSB programs, he consistently engages qualified small businesses capable of delivering complex technical solutions under tight operational constraints. Howard’s primary NAICS focus includes instrument manufacturing for electrical signal testing (334515), commercial machinery repair (811310), and specialized manufacturing sectors such as saw blade production (332216) and flooring contracting (238330), reflecting the broad infrastructure and support needs of a high-operations facility. His expertise lies in procuring ruggedized test equipment, calibration services, and facility maintenance solutions that sustain the operational readiness of undersea warfare test ranges and laboratories.