Jillian Downs

Jillian P. Downs serves as a Contracting Officer at the Missile Defense Agency (MDA), where she plays a critical role in securing advanced technological capabilities to support national missile defense systems. She manages the full lifecycle of complex acquisitions for research, development, and integration of layered defense architectures, including sensor modernization, guided interceptors, and command-and-control systems. Her portfolio centers on high-priority national security programs requiring rigorous technical oversight, compliance with defense acquisition regulations, and coordination with engineering and operational stakeholders to ensure timely fielding of mission-critical capabilities. Downs maintains consistent procurement relationships with leading defense prime contractors, including Lockheed Martin Corp and Northrop Grumman Systems Corporation, who deliver integrated missile defense hardware and software systems. She also collaborates with Jacobs Technology Inc. for systems engineering and technical assistance services. Her contracting approach emphasizes long-term strategic partnerships with industry leaders capable of meeting stringent performance, security, and interoperability standards required for missile defense applications. Ms. Downs’s acquisition portfolio reflects a strong preference for full and open competition, with 100% of her awards issued under no set-aside classifications. This reflects the MDA’s mission-critical nature and the need for access to the broadest possible pool of technical expertise, particularly for systems requiring advanced engineering and rapid prototyping capabilities. While small business participation is not formally prioritized in her portfolio, she adheres to all statutory requirements and encourages subcontracting opportunities through prime contractors. Her primary procurement focus lies in NAICS 541712 (Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences), where she sources cutting-edge R&D in radar discrimination, kinetic and non-kinetic intercept technologies, and hypersonic threat mitigation. She also procures administrative management consulting services (NAICS 541611) and graphic design services (NAICS 541430) to support mission planning, system documentation, and public-facing technical communications. Her expertise spans defense systems engineering, test and evaluation contracting, and integration of multi-domain sensor networks.