Heather Ledford

Heather L. Ledford serves as a Supervisory Acquisition Specialist, leading complex procurement initiatives within a federal acquisition environment focused on advanced aerospace and electronic systems. In her supervisory capacity, she oversees the full lifecycle of contract actions—from market research and solicitation development to award and administration—ensuring compliance with FAR regulations and agency mission objectives. Her portfolio centers on high-technology acquisitions requiring rigorous technical evaluation, often involving classified or sensitive systems, and she plays a critical role in aligning procurement strategy with national defense and aerospace modernization priorities. Ledford cultivates strategic relationships with a diverse base of suppliers, primarily prime contractors specializing in aircraft components, avionics, and precision electronic systems. She regularly engages with both large industrial firms and small business subcontractors, fostering collaborative partnerships that emphasize innovation, quality assurance, and supply chain resilience. Her contracting approach prioritizes performance-based acquisition methods and risk-mitigated sourcing strategies, ensuring mission-critical capabilities are delivered on schedule and within regulatory frameworks. Her procurement patterns reflect a strong emphasis on small business participation, with over 26% of her awards designated for small business set-asides under FAR 19.5, including a notable focus on HUBZone and Total Small Business set-asides. While the majority of her contracts remain open to full and open competition, she actively promotes socioeconomic programs to expand market access for disadvantaged and geographically underserved vendors, consistently integrating small business goals into acquisition planning. Ledford’s technical expertise is concentrated in NAICS 336413 (Other Aircraft Parts and Auxiliary Equipment Manufacturing) and 334419 (Other Electronic Component Manufacturing), reflecting her specialization in avionics, flight control systems, and mission-critical electronic components. She routinely procures specialized hardware for military and civilian aerospace platforms, including signal processors, power conditioning units, and integrated communication subsystems, demonstrating deep familiarity with defense aerospace supply chains and emerging technologies in electronic warfare and unmanned systems.