Kathy Smith

Kathy Smith serves as a primary contracting professional within the Defense Logistics Agency (97AS), playing a critical role in securing mission-critical logistical supplies that sustain U.S. military readiness. She manages the acquisition of energy storage systems, precision electrical components, and specialized hardware essential to operational readiness across the Department of Defense. Her portfolio centers on high-reliability procurement activities involving battery systems, current-carrying wiring devices, and industrial-grade electrical components, ensuring compliance with stringent military specifications and supply chain resilience standards. Smith’s work directly supports the DLA’s mandate to maintain uninterrupted logistical support for deployed forces. She maintains consistent working relationships with a select group of strategic vendors, including The Boeing Company, Atlantic Diving Supply, Inc., and AmerisourceBergen Drug Corp., reflecting a mix of large prime contractors and specialized suppliers capable of meeting complex defense requirements. Her contracting patterns favor established vendors with proven track records in manufacturing and delivering mission-critical hardware under tight operational timelines, while also engaging niche suppliers with niche technical capabilities in battery systems and electrical component fabrication. Smith’s procurement approach prioritizes open competition, with 79.3% of awards issued without set-asides. However, she actively supports small business participation, allocating nearly 19% of contracts to total small business set-asides under FAR 19.5 and approximately 1.7% to service-disabled veteran-owned small businesses. This balanced approach ensures market competitiveness while fostering opportunities for qualified small entities capable of meeting defense-grade technical standards. Her technical focus lies primarily in NAICS 335999 and 335910, indicating deep expertise in the procurement of miscellaneous electrical equipment and battery manufacturing. She routinely sources lithium-ion and other advanced energy storage systems, capacitors, transformers, and wiring devices critical to field-deployable power systems, weapon subsystems, and medical equipment—demonstrating specialized knowledge in military-grade electrochemical and electrical component procurement.