Mary Katherine (Katie) Richardson

Mary Katherine (Katie) Richardson serves as a primary contracting professional within the Defense Logistics Agency’s Energy Directorate, where she manages critical acquisitions to secure and distribute petroleum-based fuels and energy infrastructure essential to global military readiness. Her role centers on executing full-cycle procurement actions under SPE605 authority, ensuring compliance with federal acquisition regulations while aligning with DLA Energy’s strategic imperative to maintain resilient, uninterrupted fuel supply chains. She routinely handles complex, high-stakes contracts for fuel logistics, storage, and distribution services, often involving international supply arrangements and long-term performance-based agreements. Richardson maintains a focused partnership with Qatar Fuel (WOQOD) and United Capital Investments Group as principal contractors, reflecting a reliance on established, high-capacity energy suppliers with proven global logistics capabilities. These relationships are characterized by sustained, performance-driven engagements grounded in strict adherence to quality, delivery timelines, and operational security standards. While the majority of her contracting activity involves large, non-set-aside awards, she actively supports small business participation through structured opportunities aligned with FAR 19.5, demonstrating a balanced approach between mission-critical scale and socioeconomic objectives. Her procurement portfolio is exclusively concentrated in NAICS 324110 (Petroleum Refineries), underscoring deep specialization in upstream and midstream energy supply chain management. She procures refined petroleum products, bulk fuel transportation services, and related storage and handling infrastructure, requiring technical expertise in fuel specifications, hazardous material logistics, and DoD energy security protocols. This singular industry focus enables precise alignment with the Department of Defense’s operational fuel requirements across all service branches. Richardson consistently prioritizes contract vehicles that ensure operational continuity while fostering equitable access for qualified small businesses, maintaining a 40.6% small business set-aside rate without compromising mission-critical performance standards.