Denise L. Mikelson

Denise Mikelson serves as a Contract Specialist for the Missile Defense Agency (MDA), where she plays a pivotal role in executing complex acquisitions that support the development and fielding of integrated missile defense systems. Her responsibilities encompass the full lifecycle of contract management—from requirements validation and solicitation development to award and performance oversight—ensuring compliance with FAR and DFARS regulations. She specializes in high-technology procurements tied to advanced sensor systems, guidance and control technologies, and midcourse/terminal-phase interception capabilities, aligning acquisitions with MDA’s strategic mission of layered ballistic missile defense. Mikelson maintains consistent contracting relationships with prime contractors including Lockheed Martin Corp and Northrop Grumman Systems Corporation, leveraging their deep expertise in systems integration, radar modernization, and weapon system engineering. She also collaborates regularly with Jacobs Technology Inc. for technical and engineering support services. Her procurement approach emphasizes long-term vendor partnerships grounded in technical proficiency, past performance, and mission-critical readiness, ensuring continuity across multi-year development programs. While the majority of her acquisitions (87.5%) are conducted under full and open competition, Mikelson demonstrates a deliberate commitment to small business participation, with 12.5% of her awards structured as total small business set-asides under FAR 19.5. She actively promotes equitable access for qualified small businesses without compromising technical rigor or mission urgency, reflecting MDA’s balanced approach to socioeconomic goals and operational effectiveness. Her primary NAICS focus areas include Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (541712), Engineering Services (541330), and Administrative Management Consulting (541611), underscoring her specialization in advanced R&D, systems engineering, and program management support. She routinely procures services related to missile defense architecture design, modeling and simulation, test and evaluation, and mission-critical systems integration, supporting MDA’s technological edge in national defense.