Erica Howell

Erica Howell serves as a DFoS, Product Manager at the W6QK Acc-apg Natick facility under the Department of the Army, where she leads the acquisition and lifecycle management of critical soldier systems. Her role centers on translating operational warfighter requirements into technically sound procurement strategies for advanced protective gear, medical countermeasures, and battlefield instrumentation. She oversees the end-to-end acquisition process—from requirement validation and market research to contract award and performance oversight—ensuring alignment with Army modernization priorities and DoD acquisition regulations. Her portfolio emphasizes rapid prototyping, field validation, and transition to production for mission-critical equipment used in high-threat environments. Erica maintains consistent procurement relationships with EPERNAY DESIGN & CONSTRUCTION LLC and TEVET LLC, both of which provide specialized engineering, manufacturing, and technical integration services for soldier systems. Her contracting approach favors established vendors with proven expertise in defense-grade fabrication, chemical resilience testing, and vehicle-integrated systems. These partnerships are characterized by iterative development cycles, technical collaboration, and performance-based contract structures that emphasize reliability and rapid fielding under austere conditions. Erica’s acquisition portfolio reflects a 100% non-set-aside profile, indicating a primary focus on technical capability and mission readiness over socioeconomic preferences. While she does not prioritize 8(a), HUBZone, or SDVOSB set-asides, her evaluations remain fully compliant with FAR requirements and prioritize vendor qualifications, past performance, and technical merit in all source selection decisions. Her procurement activity is heavily concentrated in NAICS 336110 (Automobile and Light Duty Motor Vehicle Manufacturing), reflecting her oversight of armored vehicle-integrated systems and mobility platforms, and NAICS 325998 (All Other Miscellaneous Chemical Product and Preparation Manufacturing), underscoring her expertise in flame-resistant textiles, chemical protective coatings, and advanced material formulations for soldier survivability. Her domain expertise lies at the intersection of military vehicle systems and protective chemical technologies.