Kelly Clifton

Kelly Clifton serves as a Contract Specialist within the W4MM USA Joint Munitions Command, responsible for managing the full lifecycle acquisition of conventional ammunition and explosives to sustain operational readiness for U.S. Army, Air Force, and Navy forces. She executes complex procurement actions under FAR and DFARS guidelines, focusing on competitive bidding, source selection, and contract administration for high-consequence defense materiel. Her work directly supports the Command’s mission to modernize warfighting capabilities, ensure supply chain resilience, and safely manage the production, storage, and demilitarization of munitions systems. Clifton routinely handles sole-source, sealed bid, and negotiated acquisitions for specialized manufacturing and logistics services critical to national defense. Clifton collaborates with a network of qualified defense industrial base vendors specializing in ammunition and explosives manufacturing, including both prime contractors and tiered suppliers with relevant DOD certifications. Her contracting patterns reflect a preference for established defense manufacturers with proven technical capabilities in high-explosive formulation, propellant production, and munitions assembly. While no single contractor dominates her portfolio, she maintains consistent working relationships with firms possessing current ITAR compliance, DD2345 certifications, and facility security clearances, ensuring adherence to stringent safety and security protocols. Clifton’s procurement strategy prioritizes open competition, with approximately 90% of actions conducted without set-asides, reflecting the technical complexity and national security sensitivities of munitions acquisition. However, she actively supports small business participation through Total Small Business Set-Asides (FAR 19.5), consistently reserving up to 10% of eligible opportunities for small businesses capable of meeting stringent military specifications. Her approach balances mission-critical requirements with statutory obligations to foster a robust defense industrial base. Her primary technical focus lies in NAICS 332993 (Ammunition Manufacturing) and 325920 (Explosives Manufacturing), where she procures artillery shells, mortars, propellants, and detonation systems. Clifton possesses deep expertise in military explosive safety standards, performance-based specifications, and technical evaluation of manufacturing processes, ensuring acquired munitions meet Army and Joint requirements for reliability, safety, and interoperability.