Jim Weinberger

Jim Weinberger serves as a key procurement lead within the Missile Defense Agency, overseeing the acquisition of advanced research and development services critical to the nation’s layered missile defense architecture. He manages complex contracts for systems engineering, technical integration, and advanced sensor development, ensuring alignment with MDA’s mission to counter evolving ballistic missile threats across all flight phases. His work directly supports the fielding of midcourse and terminal-phase interceptors, focusing on high-priority technology maturation and prototyping efforts under stringent national security requirements. Weinberger’s portfolio centers on technical acquisitions that bridge innovation and operational deployment, requiring deep familiarity with defense systems engineering standards and DoD acquisition regulations. He maintains consistent, long-term relationships with prime contractors including Lockheed Martin Corp and Northrop Grumman Systems Corporation, partnering with them on high-complexity R&D initiatives involving radar modernization, battle management software, and kinetic interceptor development. Jacobs Technology Inc. is also a recurring collaborator, providing systems integration and test support services. These partnerships reflect a pattern of sustained engagement with industry leaders capable of delivering cutting-edge, mission-critical capabilities under tight technical and schedule constraints, often through cost-reimbursement and time-and-materials contract vehicles. Weinberger’s procurement activity shows no reliance on socioeconomic set-asides, with 100% of awards issued under full and open competition. This reflects the highly specialized nature of missile defense technologies, where only a limited number of contractors possess the requisite security clearances, technical expertise, and infrastructure to meet mission requirements. While small business participation is not formally prioritized in his portfolio, this is a function of technical necessity rather than policy preference. His primary procurement focus is on NAICS 541715—Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences—encompassing advanced physics modeling, guidance system development, and electromagnetic sensor integration. He routinely procures services involving hypersonics countermeasures, discrimination algorithms, and real-time command-and-control software, demonstrating deep expertise in defense science and engineering domains critical to national security.