Heather L. Rhoads

Heather L. Rhoads serves as a Contract Specialist at Naval Surface Warfare Center, Carderock Division, Philadelphia Detachment (N65540), where she plays a pivotal role in executing complex procurements for mission-critical naval systems. Her responsibilities include managing the full lifecycle of acquisitions for advanced electrical, mechanical, and control systems essential to naval vessel performance, with a focus on solid-state power conversion, propulsion control, and high-reliability instrumentation. She ensures compliance with federal acquisition regulations while aligning contract strategies with the Navy’s operational readiness goals, frequently handling technical solicitations for engineered solutions that support fleet modernization and sustainment. Rhoads collaborates with a diverse array of industrial partners, including manufacturers of relay and industrial control systems, switchgear apparatus, and fiber optic cabling, as well as engineering service providers specializing in naval platform integration. While no single contractor dominates her portfolio, she consistently engages with firms possessing niche technical expertise in power systems and control architecture, fostering long-term vendor relationships grounded in technical rigor and performance accountability. Her procurement approach emphasizes competitive bidding and technical evaluation to ensure optimal system interoperability and lifecycle support. Her contracting patterns reflect a strong preference for open competition, with 85.2% of awards issued without set-asides, demonstrating a focus on technical merit and mission necessity. Nevertheless, she actively supports small business participation, with approximately 11.1% of awards designated as total small business set-asides and 3.7% awarded through 8(a) competed programs, indicating a balanced commitment to socioeconomic goals without compromising technical requirements. Rhoads’ primary NAICS focus includes 336611 (Ship Building and Repairing), 335313 and 335314 (switchgear and industrial control manufacturing), and 541330 (engineering services), underscoring her specialization in procuring high-reliability power systems, control hardware, and integrated naval electronics. Her expertise lies at the intersection of defense engineering and acquisition strategy, ensuring that critical systems meet stringent military performance and durability standards.