Katherine Marie Kearney

Katherine Marie Kearney serves as a Contract Specialist within the C5I Division 3 Portsmouth of the U.S. Coast Guard, where she plays a pivotal role in executing complex acquisitions that advance maritime command, control, communications, computers, cyber, and intelligence (C5I) capabilities. She manages the full lifecycle of contracts supporting modernization initiatives in maritime surveillance, navigation, and secure communications systems, ensuring alignment with national security objectives and DHS strategic priorities. Her portfolio primarily consists of technical procurement actions for hardware, software integration, and engineering services critical to sustaining operational resilience across all maritime domains. Kearney maintains consistent working relationships with key industry partners, most notably Trimble Inc., a leader in precision positioning and communications technology. Her contracting patterns reflect a preference for established defense and aerospace contractors with proven expertise in C5I systems, though she also engages with specialized firms delivering cybersecurity, signal processing, and wireless infrastructure solutions. Her approach emphasizes performance-based acquisition strategies and rigorous technical evaluation to ensure system interoperability and mission readiness. Her set-aside preferences are overwhelmingly non-set-aside, with 93.5% of awards conducted under full and open competition, reflecting a mission-driven focus on technical capability over socioeconomic categorization. While small business participation is limited, she occasionally utilizes 8(a) competed and total small business set-asides in alignment with FAR 19.5, demonstrating a measured but compliant commitment to socioeconomic goals without compromising mission-critical requirements. Kearney’s procurement focus centers on NAICS 334220 for radio and wireless communications equipment manufacturing, followed by engineering services (541330) and electronic parts wholesaling (423690). She routinely acquires advanced maritime radar systems, encrypted data links, navigation sensors, and integrated C5I platforms, requiring deep technical fluency in RF systems, signal integrity, and cybersecurity compliance. Her expertise lies at the intersection of defense procurement and maritime technology modernization.