Jessica A. Blackwell

Jessica A. Blackwell serves as a key procurement professional within the Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR), supporting the acquisition and sustainment of critical naval aviation systems for the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps. She manages complex contract actions spanning advanced aerospace platforms, guided missile systems, and mission-critical avionics, ensuring alignment with NAVAIR’s lifecycle management mission. Her work directly supports the modernization of carrier-based and expeditionary aircraft fleets, with a focus on technical integration, operational readiness, and long-term logistics support. Blackwell typically handles sole-source and competitive acquisitions under FAR Part 15, often involving high-risk, high-technology systems requiring rigorous engineering validation and test evaluation. She maintains consistent working relationships with industry leaders such as Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation, Lockheed Martin Corporation, and General Atomics, partnering with prime contractors who deliver advanced aircraft platforms, unmanned aerial systems, and precision-guided munitions. Her procurement approach emphasizes performance-based contracting and risk-sharing mechanisms, fostering long-term collaboration with vendors capable of sustaining cutting-edge naval aviation capabilities. These partnerships are characterized by deep technical alignment, iterative requirement development, and integrated logistics support planning. Blackwell’s contracting portfolio reflects a strong preference for open competition, with 91.3% of awards issued without set-aside designations. While small business participation is limited, she consistently supports Total Small Business Set-Asides under FAR 19.5, particularly for specialized components in avionics and ordnance manufacturing. Her socioeconomic strategy prioritizes technical capability over socioeconomic classification, ensuring mission-critical requirements are met while still enabling qualified small businesses to compete for niche support roles. Her primary procurement focus lies in NAICS 336414 (Guided Missile and Space Vehicle Manufacturing), followed by 336413 (Aircraft Parts and Auxiliary Equipment) and 332994 (Small Arms and Ordnance). She specializes in acquiring weapons systems, flight control subsystems, targeting pods, and ammunition components, demonstrating deep expertise in defense aerospace engineering, systems integration, and ordnance logistics.