Hank Howard

Hank Howard is a senior procurement professional responsible for managing complex acquisitions within the aerospace and defense sector, with a singular focus on aircraft manufacturing. He oversees the full lifecycle of contract actions—from requirements development and market research to solicitation, evaluation, and award—ensuring alignment with federal acquisition regulations and national security objectives. His work supports critical defense and aviation modernization initiatives, typically involving high-performance aircraft systems, propulsion components, avionics, and related engineering services. As the primary contracting authority for this domain, he ensures technical compliance, risk mitigation, and timely delivery of mission-critical platforms. Howard’s contracting approach centers on established industry leaders with proven capabilities in aircraft design, integration, and sustainment. He maintains longstanding relationships with prime contractors possessing ITAR compliance, AS9100 certification, and DoD clearance levels, often engaging them through competitive sealed bidding and negotiated procurements. While he collaborates with a limited pool of qualified vendors due to the specialized nature of the work, his process emphasizes technical merit, past performance, and supply chain resilience over price alone. His procurement portfolio reflects a strict preference for open competition, with 100% of awards issued under non-set-aside authorities. This indicates a deliberate focus on maximizing technical capability and industrial base readiness rather than socioeconomic set-asides, consistent with the strategic imperatives of national defense aviation programs. Small business participation is not formally prioritized in his acquisition strategy, as the complexity and scale of aircraft manufacturing typically require large, vertically integrated manufacturers. Howard’s expertise is concentrated entirely in NAICS 336411—Aircraft Manufacturing—where he procures everything from military transport and fighter jet airframes to unmanned aerial systems and advanced flight control hardware. His domain knowledge encompasses aerodynamics, materials science, and systems integration, making him a key liaison between engineering communities and acquisition policy.