James Dougherty, Contract Specialist

James Dougherty serves as a Contract Specialist within the Missile Defense Agency, where he plays a critical role in executing complex acquisitions for integrated missile defense systems. He supports the agency’s mission to develop and field layered defense architectures by managing the procurement of advanced engineering services essential to sensor modernization, midcourse and terminal-phase interception technologies, and guided weapon system integration. His acquisitions are primarily engineering-focused, ensuring technical rigor and operational readiness across the nation’s ballistic missile defense architecture. Dougherty works closely with program managers and technical stakeholders to align contracting strategies with evolving threat landscapes and system development milestones. He maintains consistent, long-term relationships with prime contractors including Lockheed Martin Corp and Northrop Grumman Systems Corporation, partnering with these industry leaders to deliver high-performance defense systems under performance-based, cost-reimbursement, and fixed-price incentive contracts. His procurement approach emphasizes technical evaluation, risk mitigation, and systems engineering integration, often involving multi-year, milestone-driven acquisition cycles. Jacobs Technology Inc. is also a key collaborator, providing specialized engineering and technical support services critical to test and evaluation infrastructure. Dougherty exhibits a strong, consistent commitment to socioeconomic contracting, with 100% of his acquisitions structured as Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business (SDVOSB) set-asides. This pattern reflects a deliberate strategy to prioritize veteran-owned firms with proven capabilities in defense engineering and systems integration, fostering a resilient small business ecosystem aligned with national security objectives. His procurement portfolio is exclusively focused on NAICS 541330 (Engineering Services), encompassing systems engineering, technical analysis, modeling and simulation, and integration support for missile defense architectures. He routinely procures advanced engineering solutions for radar modernization, battle management command and control, and interceptor guidance systems, demonstrating deep expertise in the technical domains of aerospace defense and ballistic missile threat response.