Kristen Menard

Kristen Menard 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. She plays a pivotal role in executing complex procurements for aircraft components, munitions, and technical testing services, ensuring alignment with defense acquisition regulations and mission-critical readiness goals. Her work spans the full contract lifecycle—from market research and solicitation development to award and administration—focusing on high-impact programs that sustain air superiority and modernize carrier- and expeditionary-based platforms. Menard specializes in non-commercial, performance-based acquisitions governed by FAR Part 15, often involving technical specifications for advanced aerospace and ordnance systems. She maintains consistent contracting relationships with leading defense prime contractors including Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation, Lockheed Martin Corporation, and General Atomics, partnering with these organizations on integrated systems procurement for avionics, weapons delivery platforms, and flight support infrastructure. Her engagements are characterized by collaborative technical alignment and rigorous compliance with defense acquisition standards, often involving long-term sustainment contracts and engineering services for legacy and next-generation aircraft platforms. Menard’s contracting portfolio reflects a strong preference for open competition, with 88.9% of awards issued without set-aside designations. The remaining 11.1% are awarded under Total Small Business Set-Asides in accordance with FAR 19.5, demonstrating a measured but intentional commitment to small business participation without compromising mission urgency or technical capability requirements. Her primary NAICS focus areas include explosives manufacturing, ammunition production, other aircraft parts and auxiliary equipment manufacturing, and basic organic chemical manufacturing—all critical to naval aviation ordnance and propulsion systems. She also routinely procures testing laboratory services to validate system performance under operational conditions. This technical specialization underscores her expertise in high-hazard, precision-engineered procurement domains essential to naval air warfare readiness.