Kris Smith

Kris Smith serves as a key procurement lead at Norfolk Naval Shipyard Gf, supporting the Department of the Navy’s mission to sustain and modernize the U.S. fleet through specialized industrial and marine services. Responsible for managing complex acquisition programs, Smith oversees contracts for ship repair, hazardous waste handling, and critical machinery support, ensuring compliance with naval engineering standards and environmental regulations. Their work directly enables operational readiness by securing precision industrial services that maintain the integrity of naval vessels through lifecycle maintenance and modernization efforts. Smith maintains consistent partnerships with a core group of specialized vendors, including G I INDUSTRIAL-MARINE, LLC, OWL INTERNATIONAL INC., and MID ATLANTIC ENGINEERING TECHNICAL SERVICES, INC., among others. These relationships reflect a preference for niche contractors with proven expertise in marine industrial services, hazardous material handling, and heavy machinery fabrication. The contracting approach emphasizes long-term vendor reliability, technical certification, and on-site operational capability, fostering collaborative partnerships that align with the shipyard’s mission-critical timelines and safety protocols. A strong commitment to small business participation defines Smith’s procurement strategy, with 60% of acquisitions structured as total small business set-asides under FAR 19.5. This reflects a deliberate focus on empowering small, qualified vendors with specialized capabilities in shipyard support services, rather than relying on large prime contractors. The pattern demonstrates a strategic alignment with Department of Defense socioeconomic goals, prioritizing small businesses that bring agility, innovation, and localized expertise to complex naval maintenance operations. The primary procurement focus centers on NAICS 562112 (hazardous waste collection), 332111 (iron and steel forging), 336611 (shipbuilding and repair), and 532490 (commercial machinery leasing). These categories underscore expertise in environmental compliance, heavy fabrication, vessel overhaul, and industrial equipment support—domains requiring rigorous technical oversight and regulatory adherence. Smith’s portfolio is defined by high-stakes, compliance-driven acquisitions that demand deep domain knowledge in naval industrial operations.