Karla Garcia

Karla Garcia serves as a key procurement lead at NASA Armstrong Flight Research Center, where she manages complex acquisitions supporting advanced aeronautical research and flight test operations. Her work directly enables the validation of next-generation flight technologies, including experimental propulsion systems, autonomous flight control architectures, and high-fidelity sensor integrations on modified aircraft platforms. She handles a portfolio of engineering services, specialized equipment manufacturing, and technical support contracts critical to the Center’s mission of advancing aviation safety and hypersonics. Her acquisitions are strategically aligned with NASA’s priorities in flight experimentation and technology transition, requiring deep technical understanding of aerospace systems and rigorous compliance with federal acquisition regulations. Garcia maintains consistent working relationships with top-tier aerospace contractors, including PRIORITY 1 AVIATION INC and ROLLS-ROYCE CORPORATION, partnering with vendors capable of delivering custom aircraft modifications, propulsion component integration, and mission-critical flight test support. Her procurement approach emphasizes technical capability, past performance, and systems integration expertise, favoring established industry leaders with proven experience in high-risk, high-reward flight research environments. She collaborates closely with engineering and program teams to ensure contract requirements accurately reflect operational needs and technical constraints. Garcia’s contracting activity shows no use of socioeconomic set-asides, with 100% of awards issued under full and open competition. This reflects the specialized nature of the technologies procured and the limited pool of qualified vendors capable of meeting NASA Armstrong’s stringent performance and certification standards. While small business participation is not formally prioritized, her portfolio remains compliant with all federal acquisition mandates. Her primary procurement focus lies in NAICS 488190 (other support activities for air transportation), encompassing flight test logistics and ground support services, alongside 334290 (other communications equipment manufacturing) for avionics and data link systems, and 336412 (aircraft engine and engine parts manufacturing) for propulsion system upgrades. Her expertise spans the full lifecycle of flight research acquisitions—from requirements definition to contract closeout—ensuring mission-critical technologies are fielded safely and efficiently.