HEATHER KESSLER

Heather Kessler serves as the primary procurement lead for the LSO Combat Vehicles and Armament agency under the Defense Logistics Agency Land and Maritime, where she oversees the acquisition of mission-critical ground combat vehicle systems and armament components. Her responsibilities include managing the full lifecycle of contracts for armored vehicle interiors, power transmission assemblies, specialized braking systems, and sealing technologies essential to operational readiness. She plays a central role in aligning procurement strategy with the agency’s modernization goals, ensuring timely delivery of technically complex, defense-grade components that meet stringent military specifications and interoperability standards. Kessler maintains collaborative relationships with a broad base of defense industrial base suppliers, particularly those specializing in high-precision mechanical and electro-mechanical subsystems. While no single contractor dominates her portfolio, she consistently engages with Tier 1 and Tier 2 manufacturers capable of delivering ruggedized, MIL-SPEC-compliant parts under tight delivery schedules. Her contracting approach emphasizes technical qualification, supply chain resilience, and performance-based acquisition methods, fostering long-term vendor partnerships grounded in quality assurance and compliance with defense logistics protocols. Kessler’s procurement activity is entirely non-set-aside, with 100% of contracts awarded under full and open competition. This reflects a strategic emphasis on maximizing technical capability and industrial capacity rather than socioeconomic preferences, prioritizing performance and readiness over mandated small business set-asides. Her approach aligns with the agency’s urgent operational needs, where specialized expertise and proven production capabilities outweigh socioeconomic targeting criteria. Her primary procurement focus lies in NAICS 336390 (Other Motor Vehicle Parts Manufacturing), where she acquires armored vehicle subsystems, and NAICS 334516 (Analytical Laboratory Instrument Manufacturing), where she procures diagnostic and testing equipment for quality control of armament systems. Her technical domain expertise spans mechanical engineering, materials science, and defense-specific testing protocols, making her a key liaison between engineering requirements and industrial production capabilities in the land warfare systems sector.