Heather Skimson

Heather Skimson serves as a key procurement professional within the Naval Medical Logistics Command, supporting the Department of Defense’s mission to sustain combat-ready medical forces through the acquisition of critical diagnostic, clinical, and life-sustaining medical systems. She manages a diverse portfolio of contracts focused on medical logistics readiness, overseeing the procurement of in-vitro diagnostic substances, ophthalmic devices, and laboratory testing equipment essential for global naval and marine operations. Her work ensures the timely delivery of mission-critical medical supplies to forward-deployed units, emphasizing reliability, regulatory compliance, and rapid fielding of next-generation point-of-care technologies. While specific contractor relationships are not publicly detailed, Skimson engages with a broad spectrum of vendors including manufacturers of diagnostic reagents, medical device producers, and clinical laboratory service providers. Her contracting patterns reflect a preference for established suppliers with proven track records in FDA-regulated medical products and defense-compliant supply chains, often collaborating with firms holding ISO 13485 and AS9100 certifications to ensure quality and traceability across the defense medical logistics lifecycle. Skimson’s acquisition strategy prioritizes open competition, with 82.1% of contracts awarded without set-aside restrictions, yet she maintains a meaningful commitment to small business participation, allocating 17.9% of opportunities to total small business set-asides under FAR 19.5. This reflects a balanced approach that supports socioeconomic goals while ensuring operational readiness through scalable, high-performing vendors. Her primary procurement focus centers on NAICS 325413 (in-vitro diagnostic manufacturing) and 621511 (medical laboratories), with additional emphasis on ophthalmic goods (339115) and hospital-based medical services (622110). She specializes in acquiring precision diagnostic tools, point-of-care testing systems, and clinical support equipment critical to battlefield medicine and preventive health operations, demonstrating deep technical familiarity with medical device regulation, supply chain resilience, and military medical standards.