Leslie Adams

Leslie Adams serves as a key procurement lead at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center, managing complex acquisitions that support the agency’s mission in space science and Earth observation. Responsible for sourcing advanced space systems and mission-critical infrastructure, Adams oversees contracts for spacecraft development, scientific instrumentation, and deep-space communication networks. Their work directly enables the integration of cutting-edge technologies into orbital and planetary missions, aligning procurement strategy with NASA’s strategic priorities in climate monitoring, heliophysics, and astrophysics. Adams typically handles high-technical-risk, mission-essential procurements requiring rigorous systems engineering oversight and compliance with federal space acquisition regulations. Adams maintains consistent partnerships with leading technical institutions and specialized contractors, including Aerospace & Commercial Technologies, LLC, and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s Lincoln Laboratory. These relationships reflect a preference for mission-critical collaboration with entities possessing deep expertise in space vehicle design, sensor integration, and advanced telecommunications. The contracting approach emphasizes long-term technical alignment, with vendors often engaged in phased development, prototyping, and systems integration efforts under cost-reimbursement and time-and-materials contract types. A balanced approach to socioeconomic contracting is evident, with nearly half of acquisitions structured as Total Small Business Set-Asides under FAR 19.5, demonstrating a strong commitment to expanding opportunities for small businesses in the aerospace sector. While the majority of awards are open to all competitors, the consistent use of small business set-asides reflects a deliberate strategy to foster innovation and capacity-building within the national aerospace supply chain. The procurement portfolio is heavily concentrated in NAICS 336414 (Guided Missile and Space Vehicle Manufacturing) and NAICS 237130 (Power and Communication Line and Related Structures Construction), indicating expertise in procuring spacecraft systems, launch vehicle components, and ground-based telemetry and power infrastructure. Adams specializes in acquisitions requiring integration of space-qualified avionics, radiation-hardened electronics, and high-reliability communication architectures for Earth and deep-space missions.