Kelly S Chism

Kelly S. Chism serves as a Contract Specialist within the Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR), supporting the acquisition and lifecycle management of critical naval aviation systems for the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps. In this role, she manages complex procurement actions for aircraft, avionics, missile systems, and associated logistics infrastructure, ensuring compliance with FAR and NAVAIR-specific acquisition policies. Her work directly enables the modernization of carrier-based and expeditionary air platforms, from initial requirements validation through contract award and performance oversight. Chism specializes in sole-source and competitive acquisitions for high-technology defense systems requiring rigorous technical evaluation and risk mitigation. Chism maintains consistent contracting relationships with leading aerospace and defense prime contractors, including Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation, Lockheed Martin Corporation, and General Atomics, reflecting her focus on advanced platform integration and systems engineering support. She also collaborates with specialized logistics and training providers such as Global Air Logistics and Training, Inc., to ensure operational readiness and sustainment. Her contracting approach emphasizes long-term vendor partnerships grounded in technical proficiency, performance reliability, and strict adherence to defense acquisition standards. Her procurement portfolio reflects a strong preference for unrestricted competition, with 94.5% of awards issued under no set-aside authority, aligning with NAVAIR’s mission-critical need for large-scale industrial capability. While small business participation is limited, she consistently utilizes Total Small Business Set-Asides under FAR 19.5, demonstrating targeted support for qualified small entities in niche technical domains. Chism’s primary procurement focus lies in NAICS 336411 (Aircraft Manufacturing) and 336413 (Other Aircraft Parts and Auxiliary Equipment Manufacturing), with significant activity in guided missile systems (336414) and communications equipment (334220). She routinely procures flight control systems, radar suites, electronic warfare components, and mission-critical software services under 541990, demonstrating deep expertise in naval aviation technology domains and complex systems integration.