Heather Schmelter

Heather Schmelter serves as the primary procurement lead at the Aviation Logistics Center (ALC) under the Department of Homeland Security, where she oversees the acquisition of mission-critical aviation sustainment components for U.S. Coast Guard rotary- and fixed-wing aircraft. Her role centers on ensuring operational readiness through timely procurement of spare parts, avionics upgrades, and maintenance support services. She manages a diverse portfolio of contracts spanning engineering support, logistics integration, and technical overhaul services, with a focus on extending the service life of legacy platforms such as the MH-65E Dauphin and HC-144 Ocean Sentry. Schmelter’s acquisitions are strategically aligned with the ALC’s mandate to maintain fleet availability through proactive supply chain management and technical sustainment. She maintains long-standing relationships with key contractors including ROCKWELL COLLINS, INC., AIRBUS US SPACE & DEFENSE INC, and AVIATRIX INC, partnering primarily with large-tier defense and aerospace suppliers experienced in military aviation systems. These vendors provide specialized components such as flight control modules, navigation systems, and structural repair kits. Schmelter’s contracting approach emphasizes technical compliance, lifecycle support, and performance-based service delivery, fostering collaborative partnerships that ensure rapid response to fleet maintenance demands. Schmelter’s procurement portfolio reflects a 100% preference for open, unrestricted competitions, with no set-asides designated for 8(a), HUBZone, SDVOSB, or other socioeconomic categories. This reflects the ALC’s operational imperative to prioritize technical capability and mission-critical readiness over socioeconomic targeting, resulting in a contracting environment focused on performance, reliability, and rapid deployment. Her primary procurement focus lies within NAICS 336413 (Other Aircraft Parts and Auxiliary Equipment Manufacturing), where she acquires custom-engineered aviation components, and NAICS 488190 (Other Support Activities for Air Transportation), securing integrated logistics and maintenance support services. Her expertise spans avionics sustainment, parts obsolescence management, and technical data rights acquisition, positioning her as a specialist in complex, high-stakes aviation logistics procurement.