Katherine D. Shaw

Katherine D. Shaw serves as a key procurement professional within the FA8823 Sustainment MCPNT SSC/PKL, a critical unit under the Department of the Air Force responsible for sustaining aerospace and space-based defense systems. Her work centers on managing acquisition programs for precision-guided missile components, satellite communication subsystems, and global positioning system infrastructure, ensuring operational readiness of national security assets. She handles complex, technically demanding contracts requiring rigorous compliance with defense acquisition regulations and lifecycle sustainment planning, often coordinating with engineering and logistics teams to align procurement with system modernization timelines. While specific contractor names are not publicly disclosed, Shaw maintains a robust network of industrial partners specializing in precision machining and defense-grade component fabrication. Her procurement patterns reflect a preference for established vendors with proven capability in high-tolerance manufacturing and defense supply chain security, fostering long-term partnerships with firms capable of meeting stringent MIL-SPEC and AS9100 standards. She prioritizes reliability, traceability, and quality assurance in vendor selection, ensuring mission-critical components meet the exacting demands of aerospace and space environments. Shaw’s contracting portfolio demonstrates a strong commitment to small business participation, with approximately one-third of awards structured as total small business set-asides under FAR 19.5. While no other socioeconomic set-asides are currently dominant, her consistent use of small business set-asides signals a deliberate effort to expand the defense industrial base and cultivate next-generation suppliers with niche machining expertise. Her primary procurement focus is on NAICS 332710 (Machine Shops), reflecting deep specialization in the fabrication of precision metal components for guided weapons, satellite housings, and command-and-control hardware. She routinely procures custom-machined parts, threaded assemblies, and hardened structural elements requiring advanced CNC milling, turning, and surface finishing—domain expertise critical to sustaining the Air Force’s space and missile enterprise.