Kathrine R Leach

Kathrine R. Leach serves as a Senior Procurement Technician (CTR) at the U.S. Coast Guard’s Aviation Logistics Center, where she plays a critical role in sustaining the operational readiness of the Coast Guard’s rotary- and fixed-wing aircraft fleet. She manages the end-to-end acquisition lifecycle for mission-critical aviation components, including avionics, auxiliary equipment, and sustainment parts for legacy platforms such as the MH-65E Dauphin and HC-144 Ocean Sentry. Her work ensures timely procurement of technical spares and systems essential to flight safety and mission continuity, aligning closely with the ALC’s mandate to extend service life and maintain high availability of aerospace assets through strategic sourcing and contract administration. Leach maintains consistent working relationships with key industry partners including ROCKWELL COLLINS, INC., AIRBUS US SPACE & DEFENSE INC, and AVIATRIX INC, among others. These partnerships span high-technology avionics, aircraft subsystems, and specialized logistics support services. Her procurement approach emphasizes reliability, technical compliance, and long-term sustainment, often involving complex technical specifications and engineering support requirements. She collaborates closely with engineering and maintenance teams to align contract deliverables with operational needs, fostering vendor accountability and performance-driven outcomes. Her contracting patterns reflect a strong preference for open competition, with 77.9% of awards issued without set-aside designation. However, she actively supports small business participation, with approximately 20.6% of awards designated as Total Small Business Set-Asides under FAR 19.5 and a smaller but intentional allocation to 8(a) competed contracts. This balanced approach ensures access to innovative capabilities while maintaining competitive rigor and mission-critical performance standards. Leach’s procurement focus is concentrated in NAICS 334511 (aeronautical systems and instrumentation) and 336413 (aircraft parts and auxiliary equipment), with additional activity in abrasive product manufacturing and computer systems design services. Her expertise lies in procuring precision aviation components, maintenance support systems, and integrated logistics solutions critical to sustaining the Coast Guard’s airborne mission capabilities.