Lester A. Yearwood

Lester A. Yearwood serves as a key procurement professional at the Naval Medical Center Portsmouth, supporting the Department of the Navy’s mission to maintain operational medical readiness through the acquisition of high-precision clinical equipment. He manages a diverse portfolio of contracts focused on surgical instruments, electromedical devices, diagnostic supplies, and specialized laboratory systems essential for delivering advanced care to active-duty personnel and veterans. His work ensures the facility remains equipped with mission-critical technologies that meet rigorous military and clinical standards, aligning procurement activities with the center’s strategic priorities in surgical innovation and diagnostic accuracy. Yearwood collaborates with a broad spectrum of medical device manufacturers and precision engineering firms, maintaining consistent vendor relationships with suppliers specializing in FDA-regulated, military-specification equipment. While no single contractor dominates his portfolio, his contracting patterns reflect a preference for established industry leaders in surgical and medical instrumentation, alongside agile small businesses capable of rapid customization and compliance with DoD technical specifications. His approach emphasizes reliability, traceability, and adherence to FAR and DFARS requirements for defense medical procurement. His contracting activity shows a strong emphasis on small business participation, with nearly 29% of awards designated as total small business set-asides under FAR 19.5, indicating a deliberate strategy to foster competition and innovation among qualified vendors. Although no specific socioeconomic categories like 8(a), HUBZone, or SDVOSB are predominant, his consistent use of small business set-asides demonstrates a proactive commitment to expanding market access for qualified small manufacturers in the medical technology sector. Yearwood’s procurement focus is heavily concentrated in NAICS 339113 (Surgical Appliance and Supplies Manufacturing) and 339112 (Surgical and Medical Instrument Manufacturing), reflecting deep expertise in procuring sterile, reusable, and single-use surgical tools, as well as electromechanical diagnostic systems. He also manages acquisitions in dental equipment and ancillary audio-video systems used in clinical training and telemedicine, underscoring a comprehensive understanding of modern military healthcare infrastructure needs.