Dana L Herndon

Dana L. Herndon serves as a Contracting Officer responsible for managing complex acquisition programs within the aerospace and defense sector, with a singular focus on aircraft engine and engine parts manufacturing. In this role, she executes full lifecycle procurement activities—from market research and solicitation development to contract award and administration—ensuring compliance with federal acquisition regulations and mission-critical performance standards. Her acquisitions support national defense and aviation readiness initiatives, typically involving high-precision, technologically advanced propulsion systems and related components. Her work is instrumental in maintaining the operational integrity of military and civilian aircraft fleets through timely, compliant, and strategically aligned contracting actions. Her contractor relationships are centered on prime contractors and specialized manufacturers with deep expertise in turbine engine design, materials science, and certified aerospace production processes. While no single vendor dominates her portfolio, she consistently engages with firms holding AS9100 certification and other industry-specific quality standards, fostering long-term partnerships built on technical reliability and regulatory adherence. Her approach emphasizes performance-based contracting, risk mitigation, and supply chain resilience, particularly for mission-essential components subject to strict FAA and DoD oversight. Dana maintains a strong preference for open, unrestricted competitions, with 100% of her acquisitions conducted under the “No Set-Aside” category. This reflects a strategic emphasis on maximizing technical capability and industrial base breadth rather than socioeconomic set-asides, aligning with the highly specialized nature of aircraft engine procurement. While small business participation is not formally prioritized through 8(a), HUBZone, or SDVOSB programs, she remains committed to fair and transparent competition among all qualified vendors. Her primary NAICS specialization, 336412, underscores her deep technical expertise in gas turbine engines, accessory systems, and propulsion component manufacturing. She procures high-performance parts including combustors, turbine blades, fuel control units, and engine mounts, requiring rigorous engineering validation and certification. Her domain knowledge spans materials engineering, thermal dynamics, and aerospace manufacturing standards, positioning her as a key steward of national aviation propulsion capabilities.