Katherine E. Powers

Katherine E. Powers serves as a Contract Specialist within the U.S. Coast Guard’s Headquarters Contract Operations (CG-912), where she plays a pivotal role in executing strategic acquisitions that support national maritime security and operational readiness. She manages the full lifecycle of complex contracts for aerospace, maritime, and technical services, with a primary focus on shipbuilding, vessel modernization, and engineering services critical to sustaining the Coast Guard’s fleet and enhancing maritime domain awareness. Her work directly enables the agency’s mission to modernize patrol capabilities and advance search and detection systems through timely, compliant, and mission-aligned procurement actions. Powers maintains longstanding relationships with key shipyard and engineering contractors, including Bollinger Shipyards Lockport, L.L.C., Davie Defense Inc., Rauma Marine Constructions Oy, and Rozema’s Boat Works, Inc. These partnerships reflect a pattern of engagement with specialized, mid-to-large-tier vendors possessing proven expertise in naval architecture, vessel construction, and technical systems integration. Her contracting approach emphasizes performance-based outcomes, rigorous technical evaluation, and contract administration grounded in FAR and Coast Guard acquisition policy, ensuring accountability and mission effectiveness. Her procurement portfolio is entirely composed of full and open competitions, with no set-asides designated under 8(a), HUBZone, SDVOSB, or other socioeconomic programs. This reflects a strategic emphasis on accessing specialized industrial capabilities rather than socioeconomic preferences, aligning with the technical complexity and niche expertise required for Coast Guard maritime systems. Powers’ primary procurement focus lies in NAICS 541330 (Engineering Services) and 336611 (Ship Building and Repairing), underscoring her deep involvement in technical design, systems integration, and naval vessel construction. She routinely procures services related to vessel refits, propulsion upgrades, sensor integration, and maritime infrastructure support, demonstrating specialized expertise in defense maritime acquisition and lifecycle management of high-value, mission-critical assets.