Deena W. Cherry

Deena W. Cherry serves as Lead Contracting Officer, responsible for overseeing the full lifecycle of complex federal acquisitions, from requirements definition and market research to contract award and administration. In this role, she ensures compliance with federal procurement regulations while advancing mission-critical capabilities through strategic sourcing and risk-managed contracting practices. Her portfolio primarily encompasses high-technology systems and specialized engineering services, requiring deep technical understanding and rigorous source selection processes. She plays a pivotal role in aligning procurement outcomes with operational needs, fostering transparency, and promoting accountability across the acquisition lifecycle. While specific contractor names are not available, Ms. Cherry maintains a broad network of qualified vendors across defense, aerospace, and technical services sectors. Her contracting patterns reflect a preference for open competition, with no set-asides utilized in recent acquisitions, indicating a focus on full and open competition under FAR Part 6. She engages with both large prime contractors and small businesses on an equal footing, prioritizing capability, past performance, and technical merit over socioeconomic status in source selection. Ms. Cherry’s procurement approach is characterized by a 100% emphasis on non-set-aside contracts, demonstrating a deliberate strategy to maximize competition and leverage market-wide innovation. She does not prioritize 8(a), HUBZone, or SDVOSB set-asides, instead relying on the full and open competition framework to ensure best value. Her contracting decisions reflect a commitment to merit-based selection and efficient use of taxpayer resources, consistent with agency-wide goals for transparency and performance-driven outcomes. Her primary procurement focus lies in NAICS 334511 for advanced navigation and aeronautical systems, 541330 for engineering services, and 811219 for specialized repair and maintenance services. These domains reflect expertise in procuring precision instrumentation, systems integration, and technical support for mission-critical platforms. Her technical acumen enables effective evaluation of complex proposals involving avionics, sensor systems, and mission-critical engineering solutions.