Ellen Phelps

Ellen Phelps serves as a key procurement lead within the Department of Defense, driving the acquisition of mission-critical engineering and logistics services to advance national defense innovation. She manages a portfolio of contracts focused on advanced systems development, including analytical intelligence platforms, secure software architectures, and next-generation communications infrastructure. Her work supports the DoD’s strategic imperative to modernize defense capabilities through agile acquisition pathways, ensuring timely delivery of technically complex solutions that enhance operational readiness and cyber resilience. Phelps operates within the Defense Acquisition System, leveraging FAR-based contracting mechanisms to align procurement outcomes with national security priorities. She maintains consistent working relationships with prime contractors including Lockheed Martin Corporation, The Boeing Company, Huntington Ingalls Inc., Electric Boat Corporation, and Humana Government Business Inc., partnering with industry leaders to deliver high-assurance defense systems and mission support services. Her contracting approach emphasizes performance-based outcomes, risk-managed contract structures, and integrated lifecycle support, fostering long-term collaboration with large defense contractors capable of scaling complex engineering solutions across multiple domains. Phelps demonstrates a strong commitment to small business participation, with over two-thirds of her awards designated as Total Small Business Set-Asides under FAR 19.5. This pattern reflects a deliberate strategy to cultivate innovation from small, agile vendors while ensuring broad economic opportunity within the defense industrial base. Her contracting decisions consistently prioritize socioeconomic programs that enhance competition and diversify the supplier ecosystem. Her primary technical focus lies in NAICS 541330 (Engineering Services), where she procures systems engineering, technical analysis, and defense-specific R&D support, complemented by NAICS 541614 (Process and Logistics Consulting Services) for supply chain optimization and operational logistics modernization. Her expertise centers on integrating secure, scalable engineering solutions into the DoD’s evolving operational architecture.