Heather M. Thompson

Heather M. Thompson serves as a Contract Specialist within the Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR), where she plays a critical role in executing the acquisition lifecycle for advanced naval aviation systems. She manages complex contract actions for the development, testing, and sustainment of guided missile systems, aircraft components, and propulsion technologies essential to maintaining U.S. Navy and Marine Corps air superiority. Her work directly supports NAVAIR’s mission to modernize carrier-based and expeditionary aviation platforms through rigorous contract administration, source selection, and performance oversight, ensuring compliance with federal acquisition regulations and defense-specific procurement standards. Thompson maintains consistent working relationships with prime contractors including Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation, Lockheed Martin Corporation, and General Atomics, partnering with industry leaders in aerospace and defense systems integration. These relationships are characterized by long-term sustainment contracts and technology refresh initiatives, often involving technical specifications for avionics, munitions, and unmanned aerial systems. She collaborates closely with engineering and logistics teams to align contractual deliverables with operational requirements, fostering a results-driven procurement environment grounded in technical precision and risk mitigation. Her contracting portfolio reflects a strong emphasis on full and open competition, with 100% of her awards issued under no set-aside conditions. This indicates a strategic focus on leveraging industry’s broadest capabilities to meet mission-critical needs, rather than prioritizing socioeconomic set-asides such as 8(a), HUBZone, or SDVOSB programs. While small business participation is not a primary driver in her award patterns, she ensures all solicitations adhere to statutory requirements for fair and transparent competition. Thompson’s primary procurement focus lies within NAICS 336414 (Guided Missile and Space Vehicle Manufacturing) and 336419 (Other Guided Missile and Space Vehicle Parts), with additional activity in aircraft subsystems and propulsion units. She specializes in acquiring high-precision defense technologies including missile guidance systems, flight control hardware, and integrated avionics, demonstrating deep technical fluency in aerospace systems engineering and defense logistics.