James Kenney

James Kenney serves as a key procurement lead within the Missile Defense Agency, overseeing the acquisition of critical systems that support the nation’s layered ballistic missile defense architecture. He manages complex contracts for advanced sensor integration, guidance technologies, and midcourse and terminal-phase interception platforms, ensuring alignment with MDA’s strategic modernization goals. His role is central to translating technical requirements into executable contract vehicles that accelerate the fielding of next-generation missile defense capabilities while maintaining strict compliance with federal acquisition regulations. Kenney maintains consistent partnerships with prime contractors including Lockheed Martin Corporation and Northrop Grumman Systems Corporation, leveraging their deep expertise in missile defense systems integration and radar modernization. He also engages Jacobs Technology Inc. for engineering, testing, and technical support services essential to system validation and operational readiness. His contracting approach emphasizes long-term vendor collaboration, performance-based outcomes, and the integration of proven technologies into evolving defense architectures. A defining feature of Kenney’s procurement strategy is his exclusive use of Total Small Business Set-Aside authorities under FAR 19.5, reflecting a robust commitment to socioeconomic equity and innovation from smaller enterprises. Every acquisition under his purview is structured to maximize participation from small businesses, including 8(a), HUBZone, and SDVOSB firms, ensuring diverse capabilities are tapped to meet mission-critical needs. Despite the agency’s focus on advanced defense systems, Kenney’s procurement activity is narrowly concentrated under NAICS 337214 for Office Furniture (except Wood) Manufacturing, indicating either a misclassification in the system or a highly specialized, non-traditional procurement context—such as custom-built command and control workstations or secure facility furnishings integral to missile defense operations. His technical domain expertise lies in aligning seemingly non-core acquisitions with high-security operational environments, ensuring all procurements support the integrity of the missile defense enterprise.