LaToiya Blanchard

LaToiya Blanchard serves as a key procurement professional within the Office of Naval Research, supporting the agency’s mission to translate cutting-edge scientific research into operational naval capabilities. She manages complex research and development contracts spanning physical sciences, engineering, and life sciences, with a focus on advanced technologies critical to next-generation maritime systems. Her acquisitions typically involve basic and applied research services, prototype development, and technical analysis in domains such as autonomous systems, advanced propulsion, and maritime sensing. Blanchard operates within the Navy’s R&D acquisition framework, ensuring alignment with strategic technology priorities while maintaining compliance with federal procurement regulations. Blanchard maintains consistent working relationships with leading defense and science contractors, including CHEROKEE STRATEGIC SOLUTIONS, SCIENCE APPLICATIONS INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION, BAE SYSTEMS INFORMATION AND ELECTRONIC SYSTEMS INTEGRATION INC., SKYDWELLER US INC., and ABBOTT LABORATORIES INC. These partnerships reflect a preference for established, high-capacity firms with proven expertise in defense R&D, systems integration, and biomedical innovation. Her contracting patterns indicate a reliance on large, technically sophisticated vendors capable of delivering complex, multi-year scientific services under cost-reimbursement and time-and-materials contract types. Blanchard’s procurement activity shows no use of socioeconomic set-asides, with 100% of awards issued under full and open competition. This reflects a mission-driven emphasis on technical capability over socioeconomic preferences, prioritizing access to the most qualified scientific and engineering talent regardless of business size or certification status. While small business participation is not formally incentivized in her portfolio, her approach aligns with the Office of Naval Research’s broader strategy of securing top-tier research capacity for national security priorities. Her primary procurement focus is on NAICS 813920—Professional Organizations—indicating a heavy emphasis on contracting for scientific research services, technical consulting, and R&D management. She routinely procures advanced analytical services, laboratory testing, sensor development, and systems engineering support, demonstrating deep expertise in the technical domains critical to naval innovation.