Helen N. Xiong

Helen Wallace H. Xiong serves as a Contract Specialist at the Naval Air Warfare Center, where she plays a pivotal role in executing complex acquisitions that support the development and integration of advanced naval aviation systems. Her work directly enables the agency’s mission to deliver cutting-edge airborne command and control, avionics, sensor, and software solutions through the full lifecycle of contract management—from market research and solicitation to award and administration. She specializes in technical and professional services contracts critical to research, development, testing, and evaluation of mission-critical defense technologies, ensuring compliance with federal acquisition regulations and strategic modernization goals. Helen maintains consistent contracting relationships with leading defense and aerospace contractors, including Lockheed Martin Corporation, Jacobs Technology Inc., and Science Applications International Corporation, alongside specialized support firms such as Teya Support Services LLC and Kranze Technology Solutions Inc. These partnerships reflect a preference for established industry leaders with proven capabilities in systems engineering, technical integration, and mission-critical support services. Her procurement approach emphasizes performance-based outcomes, rigorous technical evaluation, and long-term vendor collaboration to ensure operational readiness and technological superiority. While the majority of her acquisitions are conducted as open, non-set-aside competitions (83.9%), Helen actively supports socioeconomic programs, with approximately 6.5% of awards directed toward total small business set-asides and another 6.5% under the 8(a) program. HUBZone participation is also represented at 3.2%, demonstrating a balanced commitment to fostering innovation through small business engagement without compromising mission-critical capability delivery. Her primary procurement focus lies in engineering services (NAICS 541330), supporting systems integration, avionics development, and mission simulation. She also procures semiconductor manufacturing services (334413) and electronic computer manufacturing (334111), reflecting deep technical expertise in hardware-software interoperability and next-generation airborne computing architectures. Her work bridges civilian engineering practices with military operational requirements, ensuring seamless technology transition from lab to fleet.