Diane Dei

Diane Dei serves as a Contract Specialist within the Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR), where she plays a critical role in executing the lifecycle acquisition of advanced naval aviation systems. Her responsibilities encompass the full spectrum of contracting activities—from requirements validation and solicitation development to award administration and contract performance oversight—ensuring alignment with NAVAIR’s mission to field and sustain cutting-edge air platforms for the Navy and Marine Corps. She primarily handles complex, high-stakes procurements for aerospace systems, including radar, avionics, mission systems, and integrated weapon subsystems, often under fixed-price and cost-reimbursement contract types. Diane maintains enduring partnerships with leading defense prime contractors, including Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation, Lockheed Martin Corporation, and General Atomics, supporting the development and integration of carrier-based aircraft, unmanned aerial systems, and precision strike technologies. Her procurement approach emphasizes technical rigor, risk mitigation, and performance-based outcomes, fostering collaborative relationships with industry to ensure timely delivery of mission-critical capabilities. She frequently engages with contractors possessing deep expertise in military-grade avionics and systems integration. Diane’s contracting portfolio reflects a strict focus on full and open competition, with 100% of her awards issued without set-asides, indicating a preference for leveraging the broadest possible industrial base to meet NAVAIR’s demanding technical requirements. While small business participation is not a primary mechanism in her portfolio, she adheres to all statutory requirements and ensures fair opportunity for all qualified vendors. Her primary procurement focus lies within NAICS 334511, specializing in the acquisition of search, detection, navigation, guidance, and aeronautical systems. She has deep domain expertise in procuring airborne sensors, electronic warfare suites, flight control systems, and integrated mission computers, demonstrating a technical understanding of aerospace engineering and defense systems architecture essential to modern naval air superiority.