Kayla M. James

Kayla M. James serves as a Contract Specialist within the W6QK Acc-rsa office of the Department of the Army, where she plays a pivotal role in executing complex acquisitions to sustain and modernize the Army’s aerial and missile defense capabilities. She manages the full lifecycle of contracts for mission-critical aerospace systems, including avionics, propulsion, and sensor technologies supporting platforms such as the UH-60 Black Hawk and AH-64 Apache. Her work directly supports the agency’s strategic priorities in enhancing battlefield readiness through advanced defense technologies, ensuring compliance with federal acquisition regulations while delivering timely, mission-essential solutions. James maintains strong, ongoing relationships with prime contractors including Lockheed Martin Corporation and Alaska Aerospace Corp, engaging them on high-priority developmental and sustainment contracts for defense aerospace systems. Her procurement approach emphasizes performance-based contracting and technical risk mitigation, often coordinating with engineering and program management teams to align contract requirements with operational needs. She fosters collaborative vendor partnerships that prioritize innovation, reliability, and lifecycle support for mission-critical hardware and software integrations. While the majority of her acquisitions are unrestricted, James consistently supports socioeconomic goals, with approximately 30% of her portfolio allocated to small business set-asides—equally divided between Women-Owned Small Businesses and Total Small Business Set-Asides under FAR 19.5. She actively promotes small business participation through targeted outreach and mentorship, ensuring diverse vendors have equitable access to defense contracting opportunities. Her primary procurement focus lies in NAICS categories including 541519 (Other Computer Related Services) and 541990 (All Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services), reflecting a strong emphasis on systems integration, software development, and technical support services. She also manages specialized contracts in 484210 for logistics and transport support tied to defense infrastructure, demonstrating a broad yet mission-aligned technical expertise across both digital and physical domains critical to Army aviation readiness.