Kori Johnston

Kori Johnston serves as a key procurement professional within the Naval Surface Warfare Center, Crane Division (N00164), supporting the Department of the Navy’s mission to develop, test, and sustain advanced electronic, electro-optical, and ordnance systems. Responsible for managing complex acquisitions in defense technology, Johnston oversees contracts for precision sensing, signal processing, communications, and electronic warfare platforms critical to surface and expeditionary naval forces. Their work directly enables modernization initiatives in radar detection, signal intelligence, and mission-critical weapon systems, ensuring timely delivery of high-performance capabilities to warfighters. Johnston maintains consistent partnerships with leading defense contractors including Lockheed Martin Corporation, Programs Management Analytics & Technologies Inc., and Black Hills Ammunition Inc., reflecting a focus on Tier-1 systems integrators and specialized ordnance suppliers. Additional relationships with Integrity Defense Services Inc. and McKenzie Construction & Site Development LLC indicate engagement with both high-tech engineering services and mission-support infrastructure providers. These partnerships are characterized by long-term, performance-based contracting approaches, emphasizing technical rigor, compliance with military specifications, and rapid prototyping cycles. There is no preference for socioeconomic set-asides, with 100% of acquisitions conducted as full and open competitions. This reflects a mission-driven emphasis on technical capability and urgency over socioeconomic targeting, aligning with the high-stakes nature of naval warfare system development. Small business participation is not formally prioritized in procurement strategy, though vendors of all sizes compete on merit based on technical merit and past performance. Johnston’s procurement focus centers on NAICS 334511 (search, detection, navigation, and guidance systems) and 541330 (engineering services), underscoring deep expertise in acquiring advanced electro-optical sensors, electronic warfare suites, signal processing hardware, and mission-critical engineering support. Their portfolio consistently targets cutting-edge technologies in radar, communications jamming, targeting systems, and ordnance integration, requiring stringent adherence to DoD standards and rapid fielding timelines.