James T. Francisco

James T. Francisco serves as a key procurement professional within the Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR), supporting the lifecycle acquisition and sustainment of advanced naval aviation systems. He manages complex contracts for the development, testing, and logistics support of carrier-based and expeditionary aircraft, avionics, and weapons systems, ensuring alignment with the Navy and Marine Corps’ strategic imperatives for air superiority and technological dominance. His work directly enables NAVAIR’s mission to modernize the fleet through rigorous systems engineering and performance-based acquisition practices, with a focus on delivering mission-critical capabilities on schedule and within regulatory compliance. Francisco maintains consistent contracting relationships with leading defense prime contractors including Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation, Lockheed Martin Corporation, and General Atomics, all of which provide high-performance aircraft platforms, unmanned aerial systems, and integrated mission systems. His procurement approach emphasizes long-term, performance-based partnerships with industry leaders capable of delivering integrated solutions across the full spectrum of naval aviation requirements—from flight hardware to sustainment logistics. These relationships are characterized by technical collaboration, rigorous oversight, and adherence to defense acquisition regulations. Francisco’s contracting portfolio reflects a strong preference for full and open competition, with 100% of awards issued without set-asides for 8(a), HUBZone, SDVOSB, or other socioeconomic programs. This indicates a focus on acquiring mission-essential capabilities from the most technically qualified sources, prioritizing system performance and operational readiness over socioeconomic targeting, consistent with the high-stakes nature of naval aviation procurement. His primary procurement focus is on NAICS 336411 (Aircraft Manufacturing), encompassing the design, production, and modification of fixed-wing and rotary-wing platforms, along with associated subsystems such as propulsion, flight controls, and mission avionics. He specializes in procuring advanced military aircraft systems requiring stringent certification, flight testing, and integration with naval operational environments, demonstrating deep expertise in aerospace defense acquisition and systems integration.