James Santiago

James Santiago serves as a key procurement professional within the Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR), supporting the lifecycle acquisition and sustainment of naval aviation systems for the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps. He manages complex contracting actions for advanced aircraft platforms, mission-critical avionics, and integrated logistics support solutions, ensuring alignment with NAVAIR’s strategic modernization goals. His work directly enables air superiority through the acquisition of next-generation carrier-based and expeditionary aviation systems, with a focus on technical rigor, operational readiness, and lifecycle cost efficiency. Santiago’s portfolio centers on high-priority defense programs requiring stringent compliance with DoD acquisition regulations and systems engineering best practices. He maintains consistent, long-term relationships with industry leaders including Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation, Lockheed Martin Corporation, and General Atomics, partnering with prime contractors capable of delivering advanced aerospace systems, unmanned aerial platforms, and integrated weapon solutions. These collaborations involve complex contract types such as cost-plus-fixed-fee and fixed-price incentive arrangements, often requiring integrated supply chain management and rapid prototyping capabilities. Santiago’s contracting approach emphasizes performance-based outcomes, technical innovation, and sustainment readiness, fostering partnerships with vendors who demonstrate proven expertise in military aviation systems. Santiago’s procurement activity reflects a strong preference for full and open competition, with 100% of awards issued under no set-aside classifications. This indicates a focus on mission-critical capabilities requiring specialized technical expertise, where small business participation is not structurally prioritized but may occur through subcontracting or teaming arrangements. His approach prioritizes capability over socioeconomic designation, aligning with NAVAIR’s operational imperatives for advanced aerospace systems. His primary procurement focus lies in NAICS 336411 (Aircraft Manufacturing) and 336413 (Other Aircraft Parts and Auxiliary Equipment Manufacturing), reflecting deep expertise in the acquisition of manned and unmanned naval aircraft, propulsion systems, flight control components, and mission-specific avionics. He also engages engineering services under NAICS 541330 to support systems integration, testing, and technical validation, underscoring his domain knowledge in aerospace systems engineering and defense acquisition lifecycle management.