Karen D Henderson

Karen D. Henderson serves as a Contract Specialist within the Naval Air Warfare Center Training Systems Division (N61340), where she plays a pivotal role in acquiring mission-critical training systems that enhance naval aviation readiness. She manages the full lifecycle of procurements for advanced simulation, immersive training environments, and avionics infrastructure, ensuring alignment with Department of the Navy modernization priorities. Her acquisitions primarily support curriculum development, pilot and aircrew training, and tactical combat system integration, requiring deep technical understanding of defense training technologies and compliance with FAR and DFARS regulations. Henderson maintains established working relationships with key contractors including STRACON SERVICES GROUP, LLC and FLIGHTSAFETY INTERNATIONAL INC, both of which provide high-fidelity flight simulators, synthetic training environments, and mission-specific instructional systems. Her procurement approach emphasizes performance-based contracting and long-term sustainment partnerships, fostering collaboration with vendors capable of delivering integrated, scalable training solutions. She routinely engages with contractors possessing DoD clearance and experience in aviation training domains, ensuring technical fidelity and operational readiness. Her contracting patterns reflect a strong preference for open competition, with 88.2% of awards issued without set-asides, while maintaining a consistent 11.8% allocation to Total Small Business Set-Asides under FAR 19.5. Though not heavily focused on 8(a), HUBZone, or SDVOSB programs, she actively supports small business participation through competitive small business set-asides, demonstrating balanced compliance with socioeconomic objectives without compromising mission requirements. Her primary NAICS focus lies in 611519 (Other Technical and Trade Schools) and 611699 (All Other Miscellaneous Schools and Instruction), underscoring her specialization in procuring advanced training services, curriculum design, and simulation-based instruction rather than traditional equipment. She operates at the intersection of defense technology and adult learning systems, ensuring training solutions meet the evolving operational demands of naval aviation.