James Santiago

James Santiago serves as a key procurement professional within the Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR), supporting the lifecycle management of naval aviation systems critical to U.S. Navy and Marine Corps operational readiness. He specializes in the acquisition of advanced aeronautical systems, including aircraft platforms, avionics, sensors, and mission-critical support infrastructure. His role centers on executing complex contract actions aligned with NAVAIR’s mission to maintain air superiority through modernization and sustainment of carrier-based and expeditionary aviation assets. Santiago oversees full-spectrum contracting activities—from requirements definition and source selection to contract award and performance management—ensuring technical compliance, fiscal responsibility, and timely delivery of mission-essential capabilities. He maintains consistent, high-volume contracting relationships with leading defense aerospace prime contractors, including Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation, Lockheed Martin Corporation, and General Atomics. These partnerships are primarily focused on the development and integration of next-generation platforms such as rotary-wing aircraft, unmanned aerial systems, and integrated weapons architectures. His procurement approach emphasizes long-term strategic sourcing with established industry leaders capable of delivering highly engineered, low-volume, high-reliability systems under stringent military specifications. Santiago’s contracting portfolio reflects a strong preference for unrestricted competition, with 100% of awards issued under no set-aside classifications. This indicates a focus on leveraging the full industrial base to meet complex technical requirements, with limited reliance on socioeconomic set-asides such as 8(a), HUBZone, or SDVOSB programs. His approach prioritizes technical capability and programmatic urgency over socioeconomic preferences. His primary procurement focus lies within NAICS 334511 (aeronautical and navigation systems manufacturing) and 336411 (aircraft manufacturing), reflecting deep expertise in avionics integration, radar and electronic warfare systems, flight control technologies, and airframe production. He routinely procures mission-critical hardware and software systems requiring rigorous certification under MIL-STD and DO-160 standards, demonstrating specialized knowledge in defense aerospace procurement and systems engineering support.