Dawn K. Sherwin

Dawn Sherwin serves as a Contracting Officer with the W4MM USA Joint Munitions Command, where she plays a pivotal role in securing the lifecycle management of conventional ammunition and explosives for the U.S. Army. Responsible for end-to-end acquisition planning, solicitation, award, and contract administration, she ensures the timely delivery of mission-critical munitions systems to support land, air, and naval forces. Her work directly enables operational readiness by aligning procurement activities with strategic modernization goals and supply chain resilience initiatives. Sherwin primarily handles complex, high-stakes contracts for the production, storage, and demilitarization of large-caliber ammunition, requiring deep technical understanding of defense manufacturing standards and safety protocols. Sherwin collaborates with a network of qualified defense industrial base vendors specializing in ammunition manufacturing, including prime contractors with proven capabilities in explosives handling, precision ordnance assembly, and compliance with DoD MIL-SPEC requirements. While no single contractor dominates her portfolio, she consistently engages with firms possessing current DD2345 certifications, ITAR compliance, and secure facility clearances. Her contracting approach emphasizes performance-based outcomes, risk mitigation, and adherence to Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement (DFARS) requirements for critical defense materiel. Sherwin’s procurement portfolio reflects a strict focus on open competition, with 100% of her acquisitions issued under no set-aside provisions. This reflects the specialized, high-security nature of ammunition manufacturing, where only a limited pool of qualified defense contractors meet the stringent technical, safety, and security thresholds required. While small business participation is not formally set aside, she actively evaluates capable small businesses that meet the unique qualifications for munitions production. Her primary industry focus is NAICS 332993—Ammunition (except Small Arms) Manufacturing—where she procures artillery shells, mortar rounds, propellants, and other conventional ordnance systems. She possesses deep expertise in military explosives, ballistic testing protocols, and the regulatory frameworks governing munitions production, storage, and transportation under Army Regulation 700–14 and DOT hazardous materials guidelines.