Joseph F Cerrito

Joseph F. Cerrito serves as a Contracting Officer at Naval Undersea Warfare Center (NUWC) Division Newport, where he plays a pivotal role in advancing the Department of the Navy’s maritime warfare capabilities through the acquisition of advanced sensor, navigation, electronic warfare, and integrated communication systems. He manages the full lifecycle of complex technical procurements, ensuring alignment with operational requirements for undersea, surface, and aerial domains. His portfolio emphasizes mission-critical systems that support naval superiority, including signal processing hardware, sonar arrays, and test instrumentation for naval platforms. Cerrito’s expertise lies in navigating the technical and regulatory complexities of defense procurement to deliver high-performance capabilities on schedule and within compliance. Cerrito maintains consistent, long-term relationships with key industry partners including Science Applications International Corporation, Aerospace & Commercial Technologies, LLC, Astronics Test Systems Inc, Serco Inc, and Mikel Inc. These vendors are selected for their proven capabilities in delivering ruggedized electronic systems, test and evaluation equipment, and integrated naval subsystems. His contracting approach prioritizes technical excellence, past performance, and mission readiness, fostering collaborative partnerships with contractors who demonstrate deep domain knowledge in naval warfare technologies. Cerrito’s procurement activities reflect a strict focus on full and open competition, with 100% of awards issued without set-aside designations such as 8(a), HUBZone, or SDVOSB. This reflects the highly specialized nature of the systems procured, which require advanced engineering capabilities typically found in established defense contractors with extensive DoD experience. While small business participation is not formally prioritized through socioeconomic set-asides, all acquisitions adhere to rigorous merit-based evaluation standards. His primary procurement focus is under NAICS 423490—Other Professional Equipment and Supplies Merchant Wholesalers—encompassing the acquisition of specialized professional-grade instrumentation, test equipment, and mission-critical components for naval systems. Cerrito’s expertise centers on sourcing advanced hardware and subsystems integral to undersea warfare, electronic attack, and sensor fusion technologies, ensuring naval forces maintain technological advantage across contested domains.