Julie A. Crooke - Astrophysics Division

Julie A. Crooke serves as a senior procurement professional responsible for managing complex acquisitions in the national defense aerospace sector. She plays a critical role in executing strategic contracting initiatives aligned with the agency’s mission to advance guided missile and space vehicle capabilities. Her portfolio primarily encompasses high-technology systems requiring rigorous engineering oversight, including propulsion components, guidance systems, and auxiliary equipment for strategic defense platforms. Crooke ensures compliance with federal acquisition regulations while balancing technical performance, schedule integrity, and cost efficiency across the acquisition lifecycle. Her contractor relationships are centered on Tier 1 defense prime contractors and specialized manufacturers with proven expertise in missile and space systems integration. She consistently engages with firms possessing advanced manufacturing certifications, AS9100 quality standards, and ITAR compliance credentials. While no single vendor dominates her portfolio, her procurement patterns reflect a preference for established defense contractors with demonstrated capability in classified and export-controlled environments, often requiring secure facilities and specialized supply chain controls. Crooke’s contracting activity is exclusively classified as “No Set-Aside,” indicating a focus on full and open competition for technically demanding requirements. This reflects the specialized nature of the systems she procures, where only a limited number of qualified vendors possess the necessary engineering depth, security clearances, and production infrastructure. Her approach prioritizes mission-critical performance over socioeconomic preferences, though she remains compliant with all statutory requirements for small business consideration where feasible. Her primary procurement focus lies within NAICS 336414 and 336419, encompassing the design, development, and manufacturing of guided missile systems and their supporting subsystems. She specializes in procuring advanced avionics, guidance and control hardware, propulsion modules, and integrated mission equipment for space launch and defense applications. Her domain expertise includes systems requiring precision manufacturing, radiation-hardened electronics, and high-reliability materials, reflecting deep technical fluency in aerospace defense procurement.