Lawana Pressley-Lawson

Lawana Pressley-Lawson serves as a Contracts Specialist within the U.S. Coast Guard’s Headquarters Contract Operations (CG-912), where she plays a pivotal role in executing strategic acquisitions critical to national maritime security and operational readiness. She manages the full lifecycle of complex contracts for aerospace, maritime, and technical services, with a primary focus on vessel construction, modernization programs, and maritime domain awareness systems. Her work directly supports the Coast Guard’s mission to sustain and enhance coastal patrol capabilities, search and detection assets, and specialized fleet infrastructure through timely, compliant, and mission-driven procurement actions. Pressley-Lawson maintains long-standing partnerships with a select group of prime contractors, including Bollinger Shipyards Lockport, L.L.C., Davie Defense Inc., Rauma Marine Constructions Oy, and Rozema’s Boat Works, Inc., all of which are recognized for their expertise in naval architecture, shipbuilding, and maritime system integration. These relationships are characterized by consistent recompetition and sustained performance, reflecting a preference for proven vendors with demonstrated capability in delivering high-complexity, mission-critical maritime platforms and support services under stringent federal acquisition regulations. Her contracting activity reflects a strong preference for full and open competition, with 100% of awards issued without set-aside designations, indicating a focus on technical merit and industrial capacity over socioeconomic categorization. While small business participation is not formally prioritized in her portfolio, she ensures compliance with all applicable socioeconomic requirements and evaluates proposals based on capability, past performance, and mission alignment. The technical domains she supports center on shipbuilding, vessel modernization, and integrated maritime surveillance systems, aligning with NAICS categories typically associated with ship and boat building, defense aerospace, and specialized machinery manufacturing. Her expertise lies in procuring custom-engineered maritime assets and mission-critical support services that enable the Coast Guard’s operational effectiveness across domestic and international waterways.