Johannes Cardenas

Johannes Cardenas serves as a key procurement professional within NIWC Pacific, supporting the Department of the Navy’s mission to deliver advanced naval warfare systems and mission-critical technology solutions. He manages the acquisition of engineering services and specialized defense technologies critical to fleet readiness, with a focus on electronic warfare, command-and-control systems, and maritime sensing platforms. His procurement activities center on complex, technical contracts requiring rigorous systems integration and sustainment support, ensuring naval platforms maintain operational superiority in contested environments. Cardenas plays a pivotal role in translating operational requirements into actionable acquisition strategies aligned with DoD and Navy acquisition regulations. Cardenas maintains consistent working relationships with a core group of contractors including HAWKEYE 360, INC., Systems Engineering Support Co., VT MILCOM INC., Aerospace & Commercial Technologies, LLC, and L1 Enterprises Incorporated. These partners provide specialized engineering, communications, and sensor integration services essential to NIWC Pacific’s technology lifecycle. His contracting patterns reflect a preference for established technical vendors with proven expertise in naval systems, often engaging them through competitive sealed bidding and indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity (IDIQ) mechanisms to ensure agility and technical continuity. Cardenas demonstrates a strong commitment to small business participation, with 20% of his acquisitions structured as total small business set-asides under FAR 19.5. While the majority of his portfolio remains open to all competitors, he actively prioritizes small business eligibility and encourages participation from firms with relevant technical capabilities in defense electronics and systems integration. His socioeconomic contracting patterns reflect a balanced approach that supports broad competition while fostering growth among qualified small businesses. His primary procurement focus lies in NAICS 541330 (Engineering Services), supporting systems engineering and technical assistance for naval platforms, alongside NAICS 334511 for search, detection, and navigation systems. He also procures prefabricated metal components under NAICS 332311 for specialized naval enclosures and infrastructure. Cardenas’s expertise spans the full spectrum of naval electronic systems, with deep familiarity in RF communications, signal processing, and integrated sensor architectures critical to modern maritime operations.