Kathie Bartz

Kathie Bartz serves as a key procurement professional within the Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR), supporting the acquisition and sustainment of critical naval aviation systems for the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps. She manages complex contracts spanning aircraft platforms, avionics, and mission-critical support systems, ensuring alignment with NAVAIR’s lifecycle management mission. Her work directly enables the modernization of carrier-based and expeditionary aircraft fleets, with a focus on technical integration, logistics readiness, and operational readiness of airborne systems. She handles both new development and sustainment acquisitions under FAR and DFARS guidelines, often coordinating with engineering and program management teams to align contractual requirements with technical specifications. Bartz maintains consistent contracting relationships with industry leaders including Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation, Lockheed Martin Corporation, and General Atomics, reflecting her focus on prime contractors capable of delivering advanced aerospace systems and integrated solutions. Her procurement patterns emphasize long-term partnerships with vendors possessing deep expertise in military aviation, propulsion, and mission systems integration. She frequently engages with contractors that hold ITAR compliance, AS9100 certification, and defense manufacturing credentials, ensuring supply chain integrity and technical fidelity. Her contracting portfolio reflects a strong preference for open competition, with 88.9% of awards issued without set-aside designation, indicating a focus on capability-driven sourcing over socioeconomic preferences. However, she maintains a measurable commitment to small business participation, with 11.1% of awards structured as total small business set-asides under FAR 19.5, supporting qualified firms in aerospace manufacturing and technical services. Her primary procurement focus lies in NAICS 336413 (Other Aircraft Parts and Auxiliary Equipment Manufacturing), followed by aircraft and engine manufacturing (336411, 336412), and computer systems design services (541512). This underscores her technical expertise in procuring avionics, flight control components, embedded systems, and mission support software essential to naval air operations.