Kathleen La

Kathleen La serves as a procurement professional within the Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR), supporting the lifecycle acquisition and sustainment of naval aviation systems critical to U.S. Navy and Marine Corps air superiority. She manages complex contracts for advanced aircraft components and auxiliary equipment, ensuring alignment with NAVAIR’s mission to modernize carrier-based and expeditionary aviation platforms. Her work spans the full acquisition lifecycle—from requirements definition and source selection to contract administration and performance oversight—focusing on high-technology systems that enhance combat readiness and operational endurance. Her primary contractor relationships include industry leaders such as Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation, Lockheed Martin Corporation, and General Atomics, with whom she collaborates on the development and integration of next-generation avionics, propulsion subsystems, and unmanned aerial systems. These partnerships are characterized by long-term, performance-based contracting approaches that emphasize technical innovation, reliability, and logistical support. She frequently engages with prime contractors who maintain deep expertise in military aviation systems and possess the infrastructure to support rapid fielding and sustainment across global operational environments. Kathleen’s contracting portfolio reflects a strict focus on full and open competition, with 100% of awards issued under no set-aside preferences. This underscores a strategic alignment with NAVAIR’s priority to leverage the full industrial base for mission-critical capabilities, prioritizing technical superiority and scale over socioeconomic set-asides. While small business participation is not formally targeted in her portfolio, she ensures compliance with all federal small business subcontracting requirements as part of prime contract obligations. Her procurement expertise is concentrated in NAICS 336413—Other Aircraft Parts and Auxiliary Equipment Manufacturing—where she specializes in procuring mission-critical components such as flight control systems, sensor integration modules, and maintenance-support hardware. Her domain knowledge spans aerospace engineering, military avionics architecture, and systems integration, making her a key liaison between technical stakeholders and industry partners in sustaining naval airpower.