Kristen Beattie

Kristen Beattie serves as a Contract Specialist within the Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR), where she plays a pivotal role in managing the acquisition lifecycle for critical naval aviation systems. Her responsibilities encompass the full spectrum of contracting activities—from requirements validation and market research to solicitation development, source selection, and contract award and administration—for complex defense programs. She supports NAVAIR’s mission to maintain air superiority by procuring advanced aircraft, guided missile systems, and integrated avionics, ensuring timely delivery of mission-critical capabilities to the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps. Her work is central to sustaining and modernizing carrier-based and expeditionary air platforms through end-to-end lifecycle management. Beattie maintains consistent, high-volume contracting relationships with leading defense prime contractors, including Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation, Lockheed Martin Corporation, and General Atomics. These partnerships center on the development and integration of next-generation aerospace and weapons systems, including unmanned aerial systems, missile defense architectures, and mission-critical avionics. Her procurement approach emphasizes performance-based contracting, technical risk mitigation, and rigorous compliance with Department of Defense acquisition regulations, fostering long-term vendor collaboration grounded in technical excellence and operational readiness. Her contracting portfolio reflects a strong preference for full and open competition, with 100% of her awards issued under no set-aside classifications. This indicates a focus on maximizing technical capability and industrial base efficiency rather than socioeconomic set-asides, aligning with NAVAIR’s priority of acquiring high-performance, mission-essential systems from the most qualified industry partners regardless of business size or certification status. Beattie’s primary procurement focus lies in NAICS 336414 (Guided Missile and Space Vehicle Manufacturing), which constitutes 80% of her activity, reflecting deep expertise in missile systems, flight control technologies, and space-enabled naval warfare platforms. The remaining 20% involves NAICS 541715, underscoring her engagement in advanced R&D for next-generation physical and engineering systems. Her domain knowledge spans aerospace propulsion, electronic warfare, and integrated sensor suites, positioning her as a key technical contracting lead in the Navy’s modernization efforts.