Kari A. Schuett

Kari A. Schuett serves as a Contract Specialist within the Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR), where she plays a critical role in executing the lifecycle acquisition of naval aviation systems. Responsible for soliciting, evaluating, and awarding contracts under the Department of the Navy, she supports the development, testing, and sustainment of carrier-based and expeditionary aircraft, avionics, and mission-critical support systems. Her portfolio primarily encompasses complex defense acquisitions governed by FAR and DFARS, with a focus on technical procurement processes requiring rigorous risk assessment, source selection, and contract administration to ensure operational readiness and warfighter capability. Schuett maintains enduring relationships with prime defense contractors including Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation, Lockheed Martin Corporation, and General Atomics, consistently engaging these industry leaders on high-priority programs involving aircraft manufacturing, propulsion systems, and integrated avionics. Her contracting patterns reflect a preference for established aerospace and defense primes with proven track records in delivering mission-critical systems under stringent military specifications. She also collaborates with specialized logistics and training providers such as Global Air Logistics and Training, Inc., ensuring comprehensive sustainment and workforce readiness alongside hardware procurement. While the majority of her acquisitions are unrestricted—reflecting the complexity and scale of naval aviation requirements—Schuett demonstrates a deliberate 12.5% commitment to Total Small Business Set-Asides under FAR 19.5, consistently identifying opportunities for qualified small businesses to contribute to subsystems, engineering services, and technical support functions. Her socioeconomic contracting approach prioritizes broad-based small business participation without compromising mission-critical performance standards. Her technical focus centers on NAICS 336411 (Aircraft Manufacturing) and 541330 (Engineering Services), where she procures advanced airframe systems, flight control components, and mission systems engineering. She routinely manages contracts for avionics integration, aircraft maintenance support, and digital infrastructure services, demonstrating deep expertise in the technical domains of naval aviation modernization and systems sustainment.