Dawn Patterson

Dawn P. Patterson serves as a Contract Specialist within the W6QK Acc-rsa under the Department of the Army, where she plays a pivotal role in executing mission-critical acquisitions to sustain and modernize the Army’s aerial and missile defense systems. She manages the full lifecycle of contracts for aerospace components, avionics, propulsion systems, and sensor technologies supporting platforms such as the UH-60 Black Hawk and AH-64 Apache. Her work ensures timely delivery of high-integrity hardware and support services critical to operational readiness, aligning procurement activities with the agency’s strategic imperatives in next-generation defense aviation. Patterson cultivates collaborative relationships with a diverse base of defense contractors specializing in aerospace manufacturing and electronic systems integration. While no single vendor dominates her portfolio, she routinely engages with Tier 1 aerospace primes and niche suppliers capable of meeting stringent military specifications for reliability, traceability, and performance. Her contracting approach emphasizes technical compliance, risk mitigation, and performance-based acquisition strategies to ensure contractor accountability across complex, mission-essential deliveries. Her procurement patterns reflect a strong preference for open competition, with 82.6% of acquisitions conducted without set-asides, underscoring her focus on maximizing technical capability and cost efficiency. Nevertheless, she actively supports small business participation, allocating 17.4% of her contracting activity to Total Small Business Set-Asides under FAR 19.5, consistently prioritizing qualified small businesses with proven expertise in aerospace components and electronic systems. Patterson’s primary technical focus lies in NAICS 336413 (Other Aircraft Parts and Auxiliary Equipment Manufacturing), with significant activity in 336412 (Aircraft Engine and Engine Parts Manufacturing) and 334511 (Aeronautical System and Instrument Manufacturing). She specializes in procuring flight control systems, engine control units, radar interfaces, and mission-critical avionics, demonstrating deep familiarity with MIL-STD and DO-160 compliance standards. Her domain expertise ensures acquisitions align with the Army’s modernization roadmap for rotary- and fixed-wing tactical aviation.