Kelle Pido

Kelle Pido serves as a key procurement professional at NASA’s Johnson Space Center, supporting the agency’s mission to advance human spaceflight systems and life sciences research. Responsible for managing complex research and development acquisitions, Pido oversees contracts that enable critical advancements in microgravity physiology, radiation biology, and spacecraft life support technologies. Their work directly supports NASA’s strategic goals for crewed missions to low Earth orbit, the Moon, and beyond, ensuring that scientific and engineering capabilities are procured with precision and compliance. Pido specializes in high-stakes, technically demanding R&D procurements requiring rigorous evaluation of scientific merit, engineering feasibility, and operational readiness. Pido maintains strategic relationships with a select group of specialized contractors, including Sierra Space Corp, Aspera Biomedicines, Inc., and Single Crystal Diamond Inc., each contributing advanced technologies in spacecraft systems, biomedical research, and material science. These partnerships reflect a preference for vendors with proven expertise in aerospace-grade innovation and mission-critical R&D. The working relationship pattern is characterized by long-term collaboration, technical alignment, and a focus on performance-based outcomes rather than commoditized services, ensuring that contractor deliverables meet NASA’s exacting standards for human spaceflight safety and scientific integrity. Pido’s procurement portfolio reflects a strong preference for full and open competition, with 100% of awards issued under no set-aside classifications. This indicates a focus on selecting the most technically qualified offerors regardless of socioeconomic status, prioritizing mission-critical capability over socioeconomic targeting. While small business participation is not formally incentivized through set-asides, the agency’s technical requirements often naturally attract innovative small firms capable of delivering niche solutions in life sciences and advanced materials. The primary NAICS classification under Pido’s purview is 541715—Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences—reflecting an exclusive focus on cutting-edge scientific and engineering R&D. Procurements center on experimental life support systems, physiological monitoring tools, radiation shielding materials, and advanced spacecraft guidance technologies, requiring deep domain expertise in aerospace biomedical engineering and systems integration.