Joshua K. Wells

Joshua K. Wells serves as a procurement professional specializing in shipbuilding and repair acquisitions, driving the agency’s strategic investment in naval infrastructure and maritime capability sustainment. He manages the full lifecycle of contract actions—from solicitation and evaluation to award and administration—ensuring compliance with federal acquisition regulations and mission-critical readiness requirements. His portfolio centers on complex, technical contracts for vessel construction, modernization, and maintenance, requiring deep coordination with engineering, logistics, and program management teams to align procurement outcomes with operational naval objectives. Wells cultivates relationships with a narrow but highly specialized base of industrial contractors, primarily those with expertise in naval architecture, marine systems integration, and dry-dock repair operations. He engages with a limited number of prime contractors possessing the necessary DOD facility clearances, ISO certifications, and experience in constructing or refitting military and government-owned vessels. His contracting approach emphasizes long-term vendor partnerships grounded in technical proficiency, quality assurance protocols, and timely delivery performance, fostering reliability in a sector where supply chain continuity is paramount. Wells consistently awards contracts under the “No Set-Aside” category, reflecting a procurement strategy prioritizing technical capability and industrial capacity over socioeconomic preferences. While small business participation is not formally incentivized in his portfolio, he ensures all vendors—regardless of size—meet stringent performance and compliance standards. His contracting patterns indicate a focus on mission necessity over socioeconomic targeting, aligning with the specialized nature of shipbuilding where only a limited pool of qualified firms exists. His primary procurement focus is NAICS 336611—Ship Building and Repairing—encompassing the acquisition of new construction, mid-life upgrades, hull repairs, propulsion system overhauls, and naval electronics integration. He possesses deep domain expertise in marine engineering standards, naval vessel classification systems, and Coast Guard and Navy regulatory frameworks, ensuring all procurements meet exacting safety, durability, and interoperability benchmarks for maritime defense operations.