Clyde Hartshorn

Clyde Hartshorn serves as a Contract Specialist within the Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR), where he plays a pivotal role in executing the acquisition lifecycle for critical naval aviation systems. Responsible for negotiating, awarding, and administering contracts, he supports NAVAIR’s mission to deliver and sustain advanced aircraft, weapons, and avionics for the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps. His portfolio primarily encompasses complex procurements in aircraft manufacturing, propulsion systems, and mission-critical aviation components, ensuring alignment with technical specifications, defense standards, and lifecycle sustainment requirements. He works closely with engineering and program management teams to translate operational needs into legally sound, performance-based contracting solutions. Hartshorn maintains enduring relationships with leading defense prime contractors, including Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation, Lockheed Martin Corporation, and General Atomics, consistently engaging them on high-priority programs involving rotary-wing platforms, unmanned aerial systems, and integrated avionics. His contracting approach emphasizes performance outcomes, risk mitigation, and technical compliance, fostering collaborative partnerships that support rapid prototyping, fielding, and sustainment of next-generation naval air capabilities. These relationships are built on long-term program continuity and a shared focus on mission readiness. His procurement activity reflects a strong preference for unrestricted competition, with 100% of his awards issued under no set-aside classifications. This indicates a strategic emphasis on leveraging full and open competition to access the broadest pool of technical expertise and industrial capacity, particularly for mission-critical systems requiring advanced manufacturing capabilities and defense-grade quality assurance. Hartshorn’s primary procurement focus lies within NAICS 336411 (Aircraft Manufacturing), with significant activity in 336413 (Other Aircraft Parts and Auxiliary Equipment Manufacturing) and 336412 (Aircraft Engine and Engine Parts Manufacturing). He specializes in acquiring airframes, flight control systems, propulsion components, and support equipment essential to carrier-based and expeditionary aviation platforms, demonstrating deep domain expertise in aerospace systems integration and military specification compliance.