Kathy Owen

Justin Ko serves as a key procurement professional at NASA Kennedy Space Center, supporting the agency’s mission to sustain and modernize critical launch infrastructure and spaceflight systems. He manages complex acquisitions in spacecraft and launch vehicle component manufacturing, ensuring alignment with NASA’s strategic goals for next-generation propulsion and mission-critical safety systems. His work centers on high-stakes, technically demanding contracts that support the integration of advanced aerospace hardware, including guidance systems, avionics, and auxiliary equipment essential for orbital and deep-space missions. Ko’s acquisitions are mission-critical, requiring strict adherence to federal aerospace standards and rigorous compliance protocols. He maintains consistent contracting relationships with specialized aerospace vendors, primarily NUMUNU MARTINEZ JV, LLC and CINKA CONSTRUCTION & CONSULTING SERVICES LLC, both of which provide niche engineering, manufacturing, and systems integration services tailored to spaceport operations. His procurement approach emphasizes technical capability, past performance, and compliance with NASA-specific quality assurance requirements, fostering long-term partnerships with contractors who demonstrate deep expertise in space vehicle subsystems and launch support infrastructure. Ko’s contracting portfolio reflects a strong preference for full and open competition, with 100% of awards issued without set-aside designations. This indicates a focus on selecting the most technically qualified vendors regardless of socioeconomic status, prioritizing mission readiness and system reliability over socioeconomic targeting. While small business participation is not formally mandated in his acquisitions, his evaluations remain transparent and competitive, consistent with NASA’s broader procurement integrity standards. His primary procurement focus is NAICS 336419—Other Guided Missile and Space Vehicle Parts and Auxiliary Equipment Manufacturing—reflecting deep specialization in the design, fabrication, and integration of spaceflight-critical components. He procures advanced subsystems including flight control units, thermal management systems, and launch pad interface hardware, requiring technical fluency in aerospace engineering standards and defense acquisition regulations. His expertise lies at the intersection of mission assurance and industrial manufacturing within the national space infrastructure ecosystem.