Craig R Simpson

Craig R. Simpson serves as a Contracting Officer within the Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR), responsible for managing the acquisition lifecycle of critical naval aviation systems. He oversees complex procurements spanning aircraft manufacturing, avionics integration, and sustainment services essential to maintaining air superiority for the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps. His portfolio includes full and open competitions under FAR Part 15, with a focus on performance-based contracts, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity (IDIQ) vehicles, and systems engineering support. Simpson plays a pivotal role in aligning acquisition strategy with NAVAIR’s mission to modernize carrier-based and expeditionary aircraft fleets while ensuring technical compliance and cost-effectiveness across the defense acquisition system. His primary contractor relationships are with industry leaders in aerospace and defense, including Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation, Lockheed Martin Corporation, and General Atomics, with whom he executes high-stakes contracts for advanced aircraft platforms, unmanned aerial systems, and mission-critical avionics. He also collaborates with specialized logistics and training providers such as Global Air Logistics and Training, Inc., to ensure operational readiness and lifecycle support. Simpson’s approach emphasizes long-term vendor partnerships grounded in technical rigor, performance metrics, and strict adherence to defense acquisition regulations. Simpson’s contracting patterns reflect a strong preference for full and open competition, with 95.2% of awards issued without set-asides, indicating a focus on maximizing competition among prime defense contractors. Only 4.8% of awards are designated as total small business set-asides under FAR 19.5, suggesting a targeted, rather than broad, commitment to socioeconomic programs, with small business participation typically reserved for niche technical services or specialized support functions. His procurement focus is concentrated in NAICS 336411 (Aircraft Manufacturing) and 336413 (Other Aircraft Parts and Auxiliary Equipment Manufacturing), reflecting deep expertise in airframe and subsystem procurement. He also regularly engages engineering services (NAICS 541330) and computer systems design (NAICS 541512) to support integration of next-generation avionics and mission systems, demonstrating specialized knowledge in defense aerospace engineering and systems integration.