Derek Shirley, Contract Specialist

Derek Shirley serves as a Contract Specialist within Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSYSCOM), supporting the Department of the Navy’s mission to sustain and modernize the U.S. Fleet through complex acquisition programs. He manages the full lifecycle of contracts for naval vessel construction, repair, and integration of mission-critical systems, ensuring compliance with federal acquisition regulations and naval technical standards. His portfolio primarily encompasses shipbuilding, propulsion systems, and advanced maritime electronics, requiring deep familiarity with defense procurement protocols, performance-based contracting, and risk mitigation strategies for high-stakes naval platforms. Shirley maintains consistent working relationships with prime contractors including Damen Shipbuilding & Cooperation B.V., Huntington Ingalls Incorporated, Northrop Grumman Systems Corporation, G.S.E. Dynamics, Inc., and Aerospace & Commercial Technologies, LLC. These partnerships reflect a strategic focus on large-scale industrial capability providers with proven expertise in naval architecture, integrated combat systems, and shipyard modernization. His contracting approach emphasizes performance accountability, technical interoperability, and supply chain resilience, often coordinating across multiple program offices to align procurement with fleet readiness objectives. His contracting patterns show a strong preference for open competition, with 80% of awards issued without set-asides, reflecting the scale and technical complexity of naval acquisitions. Nevertheless, he actively supports small business participation through 20% Total Small Business Set-Asides under FAR 19.5, ensuring qualified small firms have access to niche subsystems and support services within larger shipbuilding contracts. Shirley’s procurement focus centers on NAICS 336611 (Ship Building and Repairing), with significant activity in 336412 (Aircraft Engine and Engine Parts Manufacturing) and 336612 (Boat Building). He specializes in procuring hull structures, propulsion trains, sonar integration systems, and auxiliary marine equipment, demonstrating technical fluency in naval engineering domains and lifecycle support requirements for surface and undersea platforms.