Kelli Holmes

Kelli Holmes serves as a Contract Specialist within the Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR), where she plays a pivotal role in executing the acquisition lifecycle for critical naval aviation systems. She manages complex procurements spanning aircraft manufacturing, avionics integration, and logistics support, ensuring alignment with NAVAIR’s mission to maintain air superiority through lifecycle sustainment and modernization of carrier-based and expeditionary platforms. Her work directly supports the development and fielding of next-generation naval aircraft, weapons systems, and supporting infrastructure, requiring deep familiarity with Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement (DFARS) compliance, source selection procedures, and performance-based contracting methodologies. Holmes maintains consistent contracting relationships with leading defense primes including Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation, Lockheed Martin Corporation, and General Atomics, partnering with these vendors on high-priority programs involving rotary-wing platforms, unmanned aerial systems, and advanced avionics. She also collaborates with specialized logistics and training providers such as Global Air Logistics and Training, Inc., ensuring operational readiness through integrated sustainment solutions. Her procurement approach emphasizes technical rigor, risk mitigation, and long-term performance outcomes, fostering collaborative partnerships with industry to meet evolving operational requirements. While the majority of her acquisitions are unrestricted—reflecting the scale and complexity of naval aviation systems—Holmes actively supports small business participation, with approximately 18.2% of her awards designated as total small business set-asides under FAR 19.5. Her contracting patterns demonstrate a deliberate commitment to leveraging the innovation and agility of small businesses within the defense industrial base, particularly in engineering services and component manufacturing. Her primary NAICS focus areas include Aircraft Manufacturing (336411), Engineering Services (541330), and Deep Sea Freight Transportation (483111), underscoring her expertise in procuring not only airframe and subsystem production but also the specialized logistics and technical support essential to fleet readiness. She routinely handles procurements involving flight control systems, mission-critical instrumentation, and auxiliary equipment critical to naval aviation operations.