Heather J. Gerard

Heather J. Gerard serves as a key procurement lead within the W6QK Acc-pica office of the Department of the Army, overseeing the acquisition of critical engineering services that sustain military readiness and modernize defense infrastructure. Her work directly supports the agency’s mission to maintain combat systems, ensure installation operational continuity, and enable force projection through reliable logistics and munitions supply chains. She specializes in managing full lifecycle contracts for technical engineering support, including systems integration, facility sustainment, and munitions production modernization, ensuring compliance with defense acquisition regulations and performance-based service standards. Gerard maintains consistent, long-term relationships with top-tier defense contractors including NORTHROP GRUMMAN SYSTEMS CORPORATION, GENERAL DYNAMICS OTS (WILKES BARRE), LLC, PIONEERING DECISIVE SOLUTIONS INC, BIGELOW FAMILY HOLDINGS LLC, and WISENGINEERING LLC. These partnerships are primarily centered on high-complexity engineering deliverables such as technical analysis, systems engineering, test and evaluation, and facility modernization services. Her contracting approach emphasizes performance outcomes, technical rigor, and contractor accountability, fostering collaborative, mission-aligned vendor relationships built on sustained contract performance and compliance. Gerard’s procurement portfolio reflects a strict focus on full and open competition, with 100% of awards issued under no set-aside classifications. This indicates a deliberate preference for leveraging the broadest possible industrial base to meet urgent operational requirements, prioritizing technical capability and mission-critical delivery over socioeconomic set-asides. While small business participation is not formally targeted through 8(a), HUBZone, or SDVOSB programs, her contracting decisions are guided by competitive merit and readiness imperatives. Her primary procurement focus lies in NAICS 541330 (Engineering Services), where she procures specialized technical services essential to defense manufacturing and infrastructure resilience. This includes systems engineering, ordnance lifecycle support, facility engineering, and operational maintenance planning, requiring deep domain expertise in military logistics, ammunition production systems, and installation sustainment. Her work ensures that engineering solutions directly align with Army modernization priorities and operational tempo demands.